Having a child is a miraculous, life-changing experience. And for most parents, at the time that their child is born, there is hardly a question about whether or not they will continue having parental rights and responsibilities related to that child. Unfortunately, though, parents choose to divorce or separate for myriad reasons and, when they do, the custody of any shared children must be determined. At the law offices of van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim, our Allentown child custody attorneys know how emotional seeking custody of your child is, and we want to help. Please call us today for the support you need.
Types of Child Custody Arrangements in Allentown, Pennsylvania
It’s rare for the parental rights of one parent to be revoked by the court; instead, the court is interested in preserving the relationship that the child has with both of their parents. There are various types of custody and custody arrangements, including:
- Legal custody, which refers to which parent has legal decision-making power over the child;
- Physical custody, which refers to which parent is responsible for the child’s physical wellbeing (i.e. who has physical custody over the child);
- Shared or joint custody, where the physical custody of a child is shared between parents.
In addition to the above, one parent may be granted sole physical custody, but both parents may share legal custody and the non-custodial parent may have visitation with the child.
Factors Considered By the Court in Making a Child Custody Decision
The court strongly encourages parents to work together to make a decision about child custody. Parents should collaborate to create a parenting plan that outlines the responsibilities of each parent, how responsibilities will be shared, and the various details about how the child will be transported from home to home, how decisions about the child will be made, etc. It is only when parents are unable to reach an agreement that the court will intervene.
If the court is tasked with issuing an order about child custody, it must do so based on the child’s best interests. In order to determine the best interests of the child, the court will consider any history of abuse, each parent’s commitment to encouraging a relationship between the child and the other parent, the needs of the child, the needs and abilities of the parents, the relationship the child has with any siblings or extended family, and more.
Call Our Allentown Child Custody Lawyers Today
Seeking custody of your child may be one of the most emotional things that you ever do. In order to aid you in the process and provide you with support and guidance, our Allentown child custody lawyers are by your side. We know how trying a child custody case can be, and we will be available throughout the process to fight for you.
If you are seeking custody of your child or have questions about the modification of a child support order, please call us today or send us a message.
