Are you going through a divorce? Do you have at least one child with your soon-to-be ex-spouse? If so, you probably know a thing or two about sole custody and joint custody.
Although you may have heard these terms in the past, it doesn’t mean that you understand the finer details associated with each one.
There is no denying the fact that joint custody is more common than sole custody. Even so, you may be able to receive sole custody depending on the details associated with your situation.
With sole custody, a parent has exclusive legal and physical custody rights. This typically comes into play when the other parent is not fit to have custody, such as if he or she has a history of drug abuse. However, just because you have sole custody does not mean that the other parent will not have visitation rights.
There are several benefits of sole custody, including the fact that you do not have to consult with the other parent when making decisions. For example, you don’t need to ask the person’s permission to make an important decision in regards to childcare, health care or education.
If you have reason to believe that sole custody would be in the best interest of your child, this is something you should fight for as the divorce process moves forward. While there is no guarantee that the court will agree, you have the right to explain your stance.
Simply put, if you’re going through divorce and you have a child, you need to understand the ins and outs of joint and sole custody.
Source: FindLaw, “Sole Custody,” accessed March 14, 2017
