| There are more than a few legal terms that | | | | parent is deemed unfit to care for, or make |
| couples will become familiar with as they go | | | | decisions regarding, the child. |
| through a divorce. With several factors to sort | | | | In terms of physical custody, the parent with |
| out, including dividing possessions, assets and | | | | whom the child primarily lives with is said to have |
| other things, many individuals seek the counsel of | | | | full physical custody. This is not to say that the |
| a lawyer to help them organize and understand | | | | other parent does not have a right to see their |
| what can seem like a mess. When a couple has | | | | child or does not receive visitation rights. It just |
| kids involved in a separation, a thorough | | | | means that the child primarily lives with one |
| understanding of full child custody is important. | | | | parent. The parent with whom the child does not |
| A divorce lawyer or family law lawyer will be able | | | | live usually maintains visitation rights that the |
| to offer assistance as each partner navigates the | | | | parent with full physical custody must abide by. |
| often rough waters of divorce proceedings. Child | | | | The non-custodial parent will usually retain joint |
| custody refers to which parent is responsible or | | | | legal custody even if the custodial parent has full |
| has the right to make decisions about their child's | | | | physical custody. |
| education, healthcare, religious instruction, etc. | | | | A lawyer will be able to offer further information |
| Typically, couples will agree to a joint legal custody | | | | regarding full child custody and throughout the |
| arrangement, in which both parties have a hand in | | | | state. It is normally a good idea to seek legal |
| making these decisions that affect their child's life. | | | | counsel when going through a divorce, especially |
| If full child custody is awarded to one parent, then | | | | when child custody and child support issues are |
| this parent reserves the sole right and | | | | present. An attorney specializing in family law can |
| responsibility to make these decisions. This may | | | | make the proceedings much simpler and |
| be suggested in the case where one parent has | | | | smoother for divorcing couples. |
| been convicted of a serious crime or if one | | | | |