It can be difficult to decide to end your marriage, especially if you and your spouse share children. However, by working with divorce lawyers, you can lay out a joint custody arrangement that gives your children the chance to spend time with both parents. Here is a brief guide to joint custody, and how courts determine which parent gets what. 

What Is Joint Custody? 

Simply put, joint custody involves sharing the responsibilities of raising a child. There are two kinds of joint custody: physical and legal. Physical custody refers to who the child will live with, while joint legal custody involves sharing important decisions about their life. These include choices about their schooling, healthcare, and religious affiliations.  Sometimes, parents are granted one type of joint custody but not the other. For instance, you may be granted joint legal custody but not joint physical custody, or vice versa. 

How Is Custody Determined? 

Before creating custody arrangements for a family, divorce lawyers and the courts must first decide what is in the best interest of the child. The judge takes into consideration which parent is currently caring for them, the relationship between the child and their parents, and who is best suited for each job. However, divorce lawyers can help alter custody arrangements over time if circumstances change. For instance, if you are granted sole physical custody, but you lose your job and home and can’t afford to care for the child on your own, joint physical custody may become a more viable option. Likewise, if you share legal custody and your spouse becomes incapacitated due to their own decisions or an accident, you may be granted sole legal custody to keep your child safe. 

If you are thinking about filing for divorce, but you have concerns about child custody, turn to the divorce lawyers at Payne Law Office. With a commitment to personalized, attentive service, these experienced professionals can help you with every step of your separation and divorce, from the initial filing to ongoing litigation. To schedule a free consultation, call (402) 477-7246.