For any family going through a divorce, child custody issues are paramount. In many cases, parties will agree on a plan that best serves their children without sparring between divorce lawyers. But in cases where there is disagreement, the court has a responsibility to make decisions on custody and child support in the best interests of the child, often with the involvement of family law attorneys on both sides. Knochel Law Office in Bullhead City, AZ, explains some aspects of child custody law.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to having the responsibility for making important decisions regarding the child’s welfare. This responsibility often is shared by divorced parents, but one parent can be assigned sole legal custody.

Physical Custody

Physical custody is whether the child will reside primarily or entirely with one parent or equally with both. Physical custody and legal custody are related but not synonymous, and a variety of arrangements may be deemed appropriate depending on the best interests of the child.

Custody Orders

Custody orders typically are issued as part of the divorce process. Parents often will agree regarding custody, but in other cases their family law attorneys may present opposing sides of the case in court. Once a custody order is issued, both parents are responsible for following its requirements.

Changing A Custody Order

There are a number of reasons a custody order is changed. Many are benign, such as the child’s natural maturation or a parent’s change of residence or employment. In other cases, the court may change a custody order when it’s clear the current order no longer serves the child’s best interests. The family law attorney of one or both parents may file a request with the court to change a custody order. This typically is not done until at least a year after a custody order has been issued except in cases where the well-being of the child is threatened by the current situation.

Child Support

The level of child support each parent must provide under Arizona guidelines is determined in the process of a custody order. As with other aspects of the order, both parents are responsible for upholding its terms.

Because the best interests of the child are paramount, the decisions involved in determining child custody can be complex and contentious. In an ideal situation, all involved parties will agree on what is best, but the services of an experienced divorce lawyer are invaluable in many cases. If you need an experienced family law attorney in Bullhead City, AZ, or anywhere in the Tri-state area, contact Knochel Law Office on their website or call (928) 444-1000 to schedule an appointment.