There are many different types of custodial arrangements that parents request here in Florida. Each status carries with its obligations and limits. Today, let’s take a look at what it means to have legal custody of a child.
A parent who’s awarded legal custody of their child is generally entitled to make broad decisions on their behalf.
Moms and dads who are awarded sole legal custody of their kids may make unilateral decisions about their son or daughter’s upbringing. This means that any parent who maintains sole legal custody over their child can make decisions about their education, religious affiliation and medical care without having to consult the non-custodial parent about the same.
It’s quite rare, in this era, for Florida judges to award sole legal custody of a child to only one parent. Courts instead prefer to award moms and dads joint legal custody of their kids or “shared parental responsibility.”
Parents who are ordered to share joint legal custody of their sons or daughters generally have to work together with one another to reach a compromise about how to raise their children. Some penalties exist if a parent who maintains joint legal custody unilaterally decides to act without consulting their son or daughter’s mom or dad first.
Parents who come to the table and discuss custody and their reservations about child-rearing are most likely to stick with their agreements. Moms and dads who are intent on searching for problems and creating conflict are those who are most apt to continue to be dragged in and out of court. A child custody attorney can help you and your ex find a lasting solution in your case that will hopefully put an end to all the fighting you’ve endured.
