Parents facing child custody concerns in Arizona may wonder how they will be addressed through the family law process. It is important for them to ensure that all of their questions are answered and concerns handled because of how important child custody concerns are to children and families.
Child custody arrangements may be either joint custody or sole custody. In addition, there are two types of child custody including physical custody and legal custody. Both types of child custody can be either joint custody or sole custody. Legal custody refers to which parent makes important decisions for the child such as those related to the child’s upbringing including religious, educational and healthcare-related decisions. Physical custody refers to which parent the child lives with. Commonly, the non-custodial parent will have visitation rights.
It is important for parents to have a parenting plan in place that outlines visitation and custody. Child custody is always based on what is in the best interests of the child. There are a variety of factors used to determine what is in the best interests of the child. What is in the best interests of the child is different in each situation so it is helpful for parents to be familiar with how child custody is determined according to the best interests of the child standard.
Just like the family law court, divorcing parents should always remain focused on what is in the best interests of the child. It will be used to develop a child custody arrangement that is best for the child and family.