Any time the parents of a child are no longer together, whether they were ever married or not, they will need to establish an order with the court regarding custody of the child. Without this order in place, one parent could withhold the child from the other, causing a lot of problems in their lives. If you are in this situation and are having trouble coming to an agreement on your own, you will need to hire a lawyer with experience in custody law in Chesterfield, VA.
Legal Custody
In most cases, unless one parent is a danger to the child, the two parents will share some form of joint legal custody. In some cases, both parents will have an equal right to make the major decisions in the child’s life. In others, one parent may get the deciding vote to ensure these decisions don’t need to wait longer than necessary. No matter the case, though, both parents will have equal right to a child’s records and day-to-day decisions.
Physical Custody
Custody law in Chesterfield, VA, can run the gamut for types of physical custody. One parent could end up with a majority of the time based on the situation with the other parent receiving specified periods of visitation with the child. In some cases, these periods of visitation may be supervised. Another option for physical custody is to split it equally between both parties, allowing the child to establish a solid relationship with both parents.
Child Support
Even though child support is treated separately, it is still a factor when it comes to custody law. How much money one parent receives as child support depends on the number of children, the income of both parents, how much both parents pay for health insurance and daycare costs paid. This formula will establish how much child support is owed to one parent or the other to equal the standard of living in both homes.
Going through a case involving custody law in Chesterfield, VA, can be complicated on your own. This is why you need a lawyer who specializes in family law to ensure you get the best results for your child. From the decision making rights to who the child spends his time with to the child support owed, a good lawyer will ensure your case is completed in a way that is fair to all parties involved, especially the child.
