How is Child Custody Determined?

Child custody cases can be expensive, drawn-out, and tiring. When going through this type of case, most people ask “How is child custody determined?”  This question can be complicated to answer and will depend on a number of factors. 

In general, child custody is decided by what’s in the best interest of the child. Judges use factors such as safety, stability, relationship with the child, child’s preference, future needs of the child, the parent’s wishes, and work obligations to make a decision regarding child custody. 

We can connect you today with a local child custody lawyer to understand your options. 

Factors Considered When Determining Child Custody

There is no uniform formula used to determine child custody cases across the board. Judges typically rely on a few factors that help to determine what is in the child’s best interest such as:

• Child’s Preference: A judge will take into consideration who your child prefers to live with. Though a child’s preference will not be the only factor weighed, it can be significant (especially if the child is over the age of 14).
• Relationship with Each Parent: The quality of the relationship with your child will also play a role in determining child custody. If a child is more comfortable with one parent over another, a judge will take this into consideration when making a final decision. 
• Mental and Physical Health: Before child custody is determined, judges will consider the mental and physical health of each parent. If one parent suffers from anger management issues, depression, etc., then it may be more difficult to obtain custody. Furthermore, physical health and the ability to take care of the children play a significant role as well. 
• Work Obligations: While parents must show the ability to financially provide for their children, they must also show that they can still take care of other needs of their child. Parents that have busy work schedules, must travel often for business, etc. may find it more difficult to gain custody over a parent with a more flexible schedule. 
• Other Factors: The aforementioned factors all play a major role, but there are many other factors that can influence child custody. Some of the most common considerations include the child’s age, educational concerns, mental and physical health of the child, and extracurricular activities. It should be noted that each state is different, so the deciding factors can vary. 

Who Determines What’s In a Child’s Best Interest?

Most parents are used to being the final authority with regard to what’s in their child’s best interest. While this is true most of the time, in the case of child custody decisions, a judge will determine what’s in your child’s best interest. This decision is not taken lightly. 

A judge will often rely on evidence presented, third-party testimony, recommendations of social workers, and many other sources of information regarding the child’s best interest. In cases where both parents are seeking full custody or there are many disagreements, it is recommended that you hire an experienced child custody lawyer to handle your case. 

How Child Custody is Determined if Divorcing or Separating

Child custody battles that stem from parents that have decided to divorce or separate, the courts will consider the factors mentioned above such as the finances of each parent, residence, and moral character when making a decision. 

Since child custody is only one part of a divorce, it may take longer to conclude the case. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement outside of court, then the judge may issue a temporary child custody order until a final decision of custody has been reached. It is important to note that the final decision can be appealed or modified, but most temporary orders cannot be. 

Custody Determinations Between Unmarried Parents

It is important to note that each state handles child custody between unmarried couples differently. However, there are similarities across the board. In general, if paternity has been legally established, then the case will be handled much like custody cases involving parents that were married. 

If paternity has not been legally established, the mother will retain sole custody of the child in most cases. In fact, the court does not recognize the paternity of an unwed father if their name is not on the birth certificate, a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity form hasn’t been produced, or a paternity test hasn’t proven that they are the father. 

Fathers that wish to seek custody and/or visitation rights must legally establish paternity. Afterward, the judge will use common factors when making final decisions on child custody. 

What is the Difference Between Physical and Legal Custody?

Child custody cases require knowledge of many legal terms. Parents are sometimes not sure what the difference between physical and legal custody is, and why it matters. 

Parents who are granted physical custody live with their children. Those that have been granted legal custody have the right to make decisions on issues that impact their child. In many cases, the parent with physical custody will also have legal custody. However, there are cases where physical custody is granted to one parent and legal custody is shared. 

Each case will be different. Deciding what type of custody to seek may require the help of an experienced child custody lawyer. The decision will have a major impact on you as well as your child, so it should be given the appropriate consideration. 

Other Types of Custody

In addition to physical and legal custody, there are other categories of custody such as joint custody, sole custody, split custody, and third-party custody. Learn more about each below. 

Sole Custody

Parents with sole custody of their children have both legal and physical custody. In some cases, the other parent is granted visitation rights. However, they will not have any authority to make legal decisions that affect the child or any custodial rights. 

Joint Custody

Children of parents that have been granted joint physical custody split their time living with both parents. When they move, how often, etc. are typically determined in a parenting plan approved by the judge. 

Joint legal custody means that both parents have a say in major decisions that impact the child’s life. If disputes arise, the matter can be decided by the courts. 

Split Custody

Split custody refers to when a court decides to split custody of multiple children between the parents. For example, “sibling A” lives with one parent and “sibling B” lives with the other. These types of decisions are typically frowned upon but are sometimes necessary. 

Non-Parental Custody

Sometimes referred to as third-party custody, non-parental custody provides a way for those that are not biological parents (i.e. grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings, etc.) to the child to gain custody of them. In most cases, it involves situations in which both parents are not fit or able to take care of their child’s needs, and the person seeking non-parental custody already has a longstanding relationship with the child. 

If the parents agree to give custody to a third party, then they may seek to go the route of guardianship instead of non-parental custody. 

Changing an Original Child Custody Agreement

In most cases, yes, you can modify an existing child custody agreement if necessary. However, most judges will want to wait for one to two years before making modifications. Furthermore, temporary child custody orders can not be changed, you will have to wait until a final order of custody has been made. 

Judges typically require that the parent petitioning for a modification show that there has been a significant change in circumstance and the requested changes are in the child’s best interest before they agree to any modifications. 

If you are not happy with the original child custody decision made by the court, you have the option to appeal it. Child custody appeals must be based on legal errors made by the family court overseeing your case. Furthermore, they can be expensive and drawn-out. For this reason, most parents opt to modify instead of appeal. 

Can You Skip the Court When Deciding Custody?

If you and your ex have a good relationship and agree on most issues of child custody, it can be tempting to forego the legal process altogether. However, skipping the legal process can cause major problems further down the road. If your child custody agreement is not approved by the court, it is not legally enforceable. 

Additionally, if one parent is not holding up their end of the bargain, you have a disagreement, or circumstances change, you will not have the benefit of a judge deciding on the matter. There are ways to save money, time, and stress, but skipping the legal process is not recommended. 

Do You Have to Hire a Lawyer?

You do not have to seek help from a child custody lawyer. However, deciding to go into a custody battle without legal representation can leave you vulnerable to an unfavorable decision. Child custody lawyers help to draft motions, investigate, present evidence, represent you in court, negotiate, hire expert witnesses (if needed), and more. 

Furthermore, they can offer advice regarding the long-term ramifications of your parental agreement and whether or not they are in the best interest of your child. It is recommended that you hire a lawyer even if your ex claims that they will not retain legal help. 

Tips to Reduce Legal Costs

Man people cannot afford to hire a family lawyer. Many attorneys in this field charge between $3,000 to $5,000 as a retainer for their services, along with an additional $300 – $500 per hour, because of what is often required of them during child custody cases. The more complex your case is, the more time they will have to spend on it, and the more your bill will be.

Fortunately, there are ways to save money on legal fees. For those that do not wish to pay maximum prices for legal help, there are a few ways to save money.

Develop a Working Relationship With the Other Parent

Many child custody cases are more complex and drawn-out because the parents do not have a good relationship. The more disagreements and arguments during negotiations, the more you will likely have to spend on legal fees. 

You do not have to like each other to amicably work out a child custody agreement that works for both parents and is in the child’s best interest. If you are able to maintain a working relationship with the other parent, you may be able to reach a deal and only have to go to court for the judge’s approval. 

Keep Your Child’s Best Interest in Mind

Remember, a child custody battle is not about disagreements and resentments between the parents. Ultimately, it is about the child’s best interest. If you and your ex are able to focus on that, then it could lessen the workload on your lawyer and facilitate a much quicker child custody case process. 

Share the Load with an Affordable Unbundled Lawyer

Family lawyers in Unbundled Legal Help’s network provide limited service representation or full service representation. They handle all aspects of family law, including divorce and custody. If you can handle some legal tasks on your own such as filing paperwork, agreeing on the basics of a custody agreement, then you may not need a full service lawyer. In this case, limited “unbundled” legal services may save you thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Unbundled attorney rates start around $500 to $1,500. This option lets you hire a child custody lawyer to help with specific parts of your case that are particularly difficult, while you take care of the other parts by yourself. Essentially, if your case is a good fit for unbundled legal services, you will not have to pay thousands of dollars upfront for an attorney.