Parents in Los Angeles, even if they are going through a divorce, want to do what's best for their child. After all, they are in a position to know exactly what their child's unique needs are. Therefore, it is helpful for parents going through a divorce to try to work together to create a child custody plan out of court. This parenting plan should address both legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody entails a parent's ability to make important life choices on behalf of the child. For example, if a parent has legal custody of the child, they may decide where the child will go to school, what religion the child will practice and which doctors the child will see. It is common for parents to share joint legal custody, so long as it is in the child's best interests.
Physical custody entails the place where the child will reside. Sometimes, it is possible for parents to share joint physical custody with the child spending more or less the same amount of time in the care of each parent. However, sometimes this is not feasible or is not in the child's best interests. When this is the case, one parent will be awarded sole physical custody and the other parent will have visitation rights.
A divorce can be an emotional time, and it is sometimes hard for parents to think clearly and objectively when making divorce-related decisions, including child custody decisions. Therefore, they may want to make sure they are represented by an attorney throughout the divorce process. At our law firm, when it comes to child custody decisions we prioritize the child's needs first. We understand that while out-of-court negotiations may be preferable, there will be situations in which litigation is necessary. To learn more about how an attorney can help in a child custody case, please visit our website.
