When a couple decides to divorce and they have children, they will need to decide on a custody arrangement. There are two types of child custody, legal and physical custody.
Legal custody allows a parent to make important decisions for the child about their education, religion and health. Physical custody refers to which parent the child lives with and where he or she lives. Custody can either be sole or joint.
Joint and sole custody
Joint custody means that the parents share custody. If they both have legal custody, they will make the decisions about education, religion and health together. If they both have physical custody, the child will spend time living with each of them. Sole custody means that only one parent has custody.
Sole custody advantages and disadvantages
Some parents may believe that pursuing sole custody is always the best option, but there are important factors to consider before making this decision.
Sole custody does have its advantages, including reduced conflict with the other parent, it can create stability and consistency for the children and there is no need to ask the other parent for his or her input on decisions.
However, parents who have sole custody may feel overwhelmed with having to make decisions on their own, the parent without custody may withdraw from the children and the children may lose a connection with the other parent.
Each family’s circumstances are unique and it’s important to find a custody arrangement that works for their needs. An experienced attorney can review their situation and provide guidance.