Child Custody – Understanding the different types
Written by our divorce lawyers in Manassas
Parents often state that they want “custody” of their children without really understanding what that means.
For more than 30 years our divorce lawyers in Manassas have helped parents understand exactly what all the child custody terms mean and how to navigate the court systems in Prince William, Manassas Park, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Bristow, Warrenton, Centreville, Fairfax, Stafford, Chantilly, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Herndon, Reston, Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, and throughout Northern Virginia.
Before filing a custody petition or negotiating child custody as part of a divorce, make sure you know about the two types of custody.
Physical Custody
First, there is physical custody. According to our child custody lawyers in Manassas, physical custody identifies who is responsible for the child on a day-to-day basis. The child lives with the parent that has primary physical custody. It is possible for parents to have joint physical custody, meaning that the child lives with each parent for similar amounts of time.
Awarding physical and legal custody is always governed by what the court considers to be in the best interests of the child. Those “custody factors” may be different than what the parents consider to be important. Therefore, if you are going to pursue a custody matter, it would be wise to consult with experienced child custody lawyers.
Legal Custody
The second category of custody is legal custody. Legal custody is where a parent has responsibility for the care and control of the child as well as authority to make decisions concerning the child. Direct communication between a parent and child is not required for legal custody. In the vast majority of cases, parents have joint legal custody. This occurs when both parents retain joint responsibility to ensure the child is cared for as well as to make decisions.
If you are in need of experienced divorce lawyers who get results, please contact us online or by calling 703-361-0776.
Divorce lawyers in Manassas serving Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington, Manassas Park, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Bristow, Warrenton, Centreville, Stafford, Chantilly, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Herndon, Reston, Alexandria, and Annandale.
