The divorce or separation of two Virginia parents can be hard on everyone in their family as they sort out the details of their futures. When it comes to the care and support of the individuals’ children, however, important decisions must be made to ensure that those kids are properly provided for as they transition away from their two-parent home. These decisions revolve around child custody and how the parents should share it.
Child custody covers two distinct types of custody: legal and physical. Legal custody covers which parent or parents have the authority to be involved in the raising of their children while physical custody covers which parent or parents have the right to have their children live with them. More information about legal and physical custody should be sought from readers’ family law attorneys.
Physical custody can be granted to both parents in a joint custody scheme. When this happens, the children often will transition between the homes of their parents on a schedule, such as week to week or on weekends. In some cases, one parent may be given sole physical custody of their children.
Similarly, legal custody can be assigned jointly or on a sole parent basis. Decisions about custody are based on the needs and best interests of the children, and therefore no guarantees can be made about how such matters will resolve in court. Parents who wish to retain active roles in their children’s lives can work hard to fight for their interests when their custody hearings happen, and they can also do so with the help and support of attorneys who understand and advocate under Virginia’s child custody laws.