Child Custody



Child custody refers to custodial awards or determinations involving a minor child. These determinations involve who has the right to make decisions about the child, or legal custody, including decisions about education, religion, medical issues, and discipline, as well as where the child will live, or physical custody. With "sole custody", you alone have legal and physical custody of your child. In a "joint custody" arrangement, you and your ex-spouse share legal and/or physical child custody. If you and your spouse cannot agree on a child custody arrangement, a court will likely make a child custody decision based on the "best interests of your child." Read on to learn more about child custody law, and to locate a child custody lawyer or child custody attorney. All child custody information is kept strictly confidential. Child custody law, child custody lawyer, and child custody attorney information provided by Lawyers.comsm.

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Child Custody Articles
State Specific Resources
-  Divorce, Child Custody and Support in Your State
-  State Domestic Relations and Family Codes Websites
-  State Child Support Service/ Enforcement Websites
 
Articles
General Overview
-  Issues and Laws Surrounding Child Custody-  The Child's Best Interests in Custody Arrangements
-  Who Are Professional Child Custody Evaluators?-  Types of Child Custody
-  Factors Considered by a Child Custody Evaluator-  Types of Custody-Joint Custody Checklist
-  The Role of a Professional Child Custody Evaluator-  Sharing Custody
-  Report Preparation by a Child Custody Evaluator-  Child Custody Isn't Always Connected to Divorce
-  Your Rights as a Noncustodial Parent-  Child Custody Myth: Mothers Are First In Line
-  Third Parties' Rights to Custody of a Child-  Your Child's Wishes May Count in Child Custody Agreements
-  Divorce, Parenting and Information on Your Child-  Child Custody Issues Involving the Military
-  Same Sex Parenting-  Child Abuse & Child Custody
 
Negotiation and Mediation during Child Custody Disputes
-  Negotiating Child Custody-  Understanding the Child Custody Mediation Process
-  Common Issues During Child Custody Mediation-  Child Custody Mediation May Be Right for You
-  Creating a Child Custody Plan During Mediation
 
Child Custody: Visitation and Relocation
-  Relocation and Child Custody-  Relocating with Children after Divorce
-  Custodian's Relocation and Modifying Child Custody-  Visitation and Handling Transportation
-  Examples of Visitation Schedules-  Supervised Visitation & Child Custody
-  Grandparents' Visitation Rights-  Interference with Child Visitation Rights
-  Child Custody and Child Visitation: Terms To Know
 
Taxes and Child Custody
-  Child Tax Credits and Separation or Divorce-  Child Tax Exemptions, Deductions and Divorce
-  Divorce and Personal Exemptions for Children
 
Events Affecting Custody
-  Interference with Joint Child Custody-  Key Factors in Modifying Child Custody
-  Emergency Temporary Child Custody-  Permanent Child Custody Based on Temporary Custody
-  Regaining or Changing Custody-  Missing Children, Child Abduction & Child Custody
-  Safe-Haven Laws Help Protect Newborns-  Changing or Updating Temporary Child Custody
-  Failing to Pick Up Your Child after an Activity-  Safety Seat Laws
 
Hot Topics
-  International Custody Dispute-  Medication Disputes, Your Child and Custody Cases
-  Who's Watching the Babysitter?-  Safe Haven for Baby Dumping - The Nebraska Hiccup
-  Michael Jackson Leaves behind Three Children-  Jackson Custody and Grandparents' Rights
-  Same Sex Parents Fight for Rights in Court-  What NOT To Do in a Custody Battle
-  Working with Child Services to Get Your Child Back
 
Child Custody FAQs
-  Divorce: Enforcing Custody Rights FAQ-  Divorce: Child Custody FAQ
-  Divorce: Modifying Custody FAQ
 
Do-it-Yourself Legal Forms
-  Divorce Agreement-  Legal Name Change
-  Last Will and Testament-  Power of Attorney
Access Additional Forms
-  Personal Legal Forms
 
Lawyers.comsm Virtual Community
Legal Forums
-  Alimony-  Child Custody and Visitation
-  Emotional Support - Divorce-  General Divorce Law
-  General Family Law-  Non-Custodial Parents
-  FL Family Law/Divorce-  NY Family Law/Divorce
-  PA Family Law/Divorce-  CA Family Law/Divorce
-  TX Family Law/Divorce
 
Chats
-  Child Custody and Visitation Chat
 
Hiring a Family Law Lawyer
-  Family Law: Selecting a Good Lawyer-  Family Law: Meeting with a Lawyer
-  Family Law: Preparing to Meet with a Lawyer
 
Related Topics on Lawyers.comsm
-  Divorce
-  Child Support
-  Visitation Rights
-  Family Law
 
Child Custody Lawyers for Select Cities
 
Finding the Right Lawyer

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Ask a Lawyer - Child Custody Law questions answered by leading lawyers
I live in florida, want to know if I do have a chance to get full custody of my 4 year old daughter.
I have been married for 5 years, and I became a stay at home mom when my daughter was born she is turning 4 now. I have been looking for work and no luck. The strain of me not working I believe has taken a toll in our marriage, my husband is always stressed out and takes cocaine, he is an alcoholic and gambles. I don''t want our daughter growing up in this unstable environment, I have been dealing with it divorce has never been an option for me, but it has gotten worse. I don''t want my daughter to not see her dad, I just want full custody, so I can make sure she does get a stable home, so I know she is safe from her dad when he gets toxic, he becomes paranoid and I''m just afraid. He says that if I go to court and fight for custody the judge will be on his side and that I can''t prove that he does drugs. He says there is this cleanser that cleanse you completely and it will be my word against his. I don''t know what to do, I don''t want my daughter growing up in that environment.
I have been married for 5 years, and I became a stay at home mom when my daughter was born she is tu
i have custody of my child and im wanting to move from fl to ohio can i?
see he use to have visition every other weekend now that ended over a year ago. he hasnt payed child support for 6 months now and he doesnt have a premitten place to live no job and he dont see her that much anymore. when i told him i was moving now hes mad of course and says i cant take her. is there something he can do to stop me or make me stay here in fl? or is there something i need to do before i move?
I am currently looking into trying to get joint custody of my son, where I can have him more than ju
I have been divorced for 5 months, I have not missed any of my child support payments. I am currently in another relationship and planning to get married. I own my home and I make good money in order to support my son. My ex wife currently rents a home with her same sex partner, that she cheated with while we were married. I dont believe that she has him for the majority of the time due to her work schedule. I know her parents usually have him one or two nights a week. I just need some information to see if there is anyway to form a case in order to get more custody time with him because I can provide the same if not better care than what he is receiving now.
i have an 8 year old son and his father and i have never been married. he has paid child support of
job). last year he was dating a girl who is less than upstanding, but they broke up. before that, she attacked her dad and went to jail, they both have domestic violence charges and both been in rehab. over the summer, after he had broken up with her, she got a temp. rest. order and called the police on him about 4 times. in october i found out that they were back together and he had been lying to hide it and taking my son there for about a month. he had stopped paying child support and when i found out that he was taking my son there, i quit letting him go. he is not legitimized, and has no rights, but i''m not sure what to do. am i in the wrong for not sending my son there? i just think because of their past, it isn''t the best situation for my son.
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Child Custody Lawyer Web Sites
 
 -  Mississippi Law - Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & Mccormick, P.A.
 -  Suffolk County Child Custody - Bryan L. Salamone And Associates P.C.
 -  Knox County Child Custody Law - Sobieski, Messer & Associates, PLLC
 -  Raleigh Child Custody Law - Raleigh Divorce Law Firm
 -  Oklahoma City Child Custody - Echols And Associates