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divorce custodyChild custody cases are settled during separation and divorce settlements through state governed family law systems. The court will consider a variety of factors and a number of different outcomes in child custody cases. The most important factor that currently governs the outcome of child custody cases is the best interest of the children involved in the dissolution of a marriage.
There are two types of custody that are awarded in child custody cases. Legal custody in child custody cases determines who will be responsible for making the major decisions in a child''s life. These major decisions include those made regarding a child''s education, health care, extra-curricular activities, and how that child will be disciplined. Physical custody refers to who the child will live with, who will transport the child to various activities, who the child will spend weekends and holidays with, and the like.
There are a number of different outcomes possible in child custody cases. One parent or other guardian may be awarded sole or primary custody of a child in child custody cases. Joint custody, or co-parenting, may also be the outcome of child custody cases. When joint custody is awarded, a parenting plan will be developed through child custody cases in order to provide the guidelines by which a child will be cared for.
There are a number of factors that will be considered when determining custody in child custody cases. Parenting history, the responsibility and stability of each parent, parental employment, parental health, and the time each parent has to dedicate to a child are all factors that will be taken into consideration and will be judged based on the best interest of the children. A child''s preference will also be considered in many child custody cases. In some states, a child must be of a certain age in order to have their wishes considered in child custody cases. In other states, a child''s wishes are considered regardless of their age, though special discretion is employed when children are seven or younger.
In some child custody cases, especially those involving sole or primary child custody, child support may be ordered by the family court system. This is monetary support provided by the parent with less or no legal or physical responsibility for the child or in other specific cases. The family law system has a number of provisions in place that may punish parents who fail to pay child support. It is estimated, however, that more than fifteen million mothers with primary or sole custody of children are currently owed child support that has not been paid as required by law.
Child custody cases are usually mediated by a qualified court appointed or private social worker who acts as a neutral facilitator in child custody cases to determine an appropriate parenting plan. Mediators will meet with both parents, and any other guardian who is seeking custody or visitation rights (i.e. grandparents). The mediator will then report to the judge his/her recommendations in child custody cases. This report will greatly influence a judge''s final decision in child custody cases. The help of a qualified family law attorney can greatly benefit a person who is going through child custody cases. This legal expert can help to protect and maximize a parent''s legal rights and interests.
The fate of a 6-year-old boy living in Delaware could set a precedent for how US-international divorce custody cases are fought and won. A custody battle between the boy’s parents, Henry and Jody Baxter, recently ended with the Philadelphia US 3rd Cir...