Child Custody Frequently Asked Questions
Child custody is oftentimes the most contentious part of a divorce or paternity case. Many of our clients have questions related to child custody and parenting plans for their children. Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions:
What is the difference between
Legal and Physical custody?
Legal custody involves making major decisions for the children such as medical, school, or religious choices Physical custody involves things like where children live and the amount of time they spend with each parent. All child custody determinations involve both of these components, which can be granted solely to one parent or jointly to both parents.
How can I get sole custody of my child?
Sole legal and physical custody to one parent can be a difficult case to make, absent circumstances that jeopardize the children’s best interests. The primary reason being that joint custody, or involvement from both parents in a child’s life will often always be viewed as the best possible outcome for your children.
But my ex's house is dirty, they were a bad spouse, etc.
Just because your ex was a bad partner does not mean they will be a bad parent. Even if their parenting style is different from yours, the court will encourage you to work as a team to parent your children. But sole custody may be granted in extreme circumstances.
For advice tailored to your case-specific questions, contact our office in Shawnee for a case evaluation. Call (913) 220-2002 today to schedule an appointment or reach out to us online.