When parents go through a divorce, they are required to determine the new future arrangements of their children. This can include a custody agreement. When this happens, parents can be awarded physical and legal custody of their child. When a parent has physical custody, they are considered the custodial parent.
Responsibilities of a Custodial Parent
When a parent is a child’s custodial parent, they are the individual that the child lives and spends the majority of their time with. This role in a child’s life comes with several responsibilities on their shoulders. One of the most important overall tasks is to ensure the child has a happy, healthy, and stable upbringing. This can be done by providing them with a home, food, clothes, an education, and more.
How are Custody Arrangements Made?
When parents go through a divorce, it significantly impacts their children’s lives. This is why custody arrangements are handled very sensitively. There are cases in which parents need to go to court to have a judge determine custody for them. When this happens, judges are required to make a decision that is in the best interest of the child. To do this, they consider many factors relating to the child’s needs and the family’s situation. Through this process, they do their best to place the child in the healthiest environment for them.
What is Legal Custody?
While physical custody determines a custodial parent, legal custody is in regard to a different aspect of the child’s life. When a parent has legal custody of their child, it gives them the right to be involved in making important decisions regarding the upbringing of their child. This can include matters such as education, healthcare, religion, and more. Even if a parent does not have physical custody of their child, it is crucial that they fight for legal custody to have influence in their child’s life.
Can Custody Arrangements Change?
When judges make custody decisions, they do so based on a child’s current family situation. However, these situations are subject to change over time. Sometimes, a custody arrangement may no longer suit the child or the family. This is why courts allow modifications to be made to these agreements. This allows the custody agreement to be adjusted so that it may better suit the family’s current life. For example, if one parent does not abide by the custody arrangement, the other parent can petition the court for a modification.
Contact our Firm
If you or someone you know is seeking an experienced attorney for a divorce case, contact Peter V. Mandi & Associates, Inc. today.
Peter V. Mandi, Esq. is an experienced divorce and family law attorney located in Bohemia, New York. If you require strong and dedicated legal representation in Long Island, New York, contact Peter V. Mandi & Associates, Inc. today for a free consultation.
