| If you're going through a divorce and you have children, | | | | Deciding Physical Custody |
| the chances are good that they are your biggest | | | | There are a number of factors that a judge takes into |
| concern throughout the proceedings. After all, you | | | | consideration when he or she is determining which |
| want to be a good parent, and you want what's best | | | | parent will get physical custody, including: |
| for them. And you want them to be as large a part of | | | | - How old the children are. |
| your life as possible. You may even be concerned | | | | - The considerations of the parents, to a certain |
| about whether you or your spouse will be getting | | | | extent. |
| custody of the children. It's understandable to be | | | | - The nature of the relationship between each parent |
| worried. | | | | and the children. If a child has a bad relationship with |
| There are a lot of factors that go into determining | | | | one of the parents, that parent is less likely to get |
| which spouse will wind up being the custodial parent of | | | | custody. |
| the children. But first, it's important to understand the | | | | - The health of the parents, both in terms of physical |
| two types of custody, how they differ, and what your | | | | health and mental health. |
| rights are. | | | | - Which parent provided the bulk of care for the child |
| When people talk about having custody of the kids, | | | | up to the point of the divorce. |
| they're usually talking about physical custody. That is, | | | | - The ability of each parent to provide a healthy, stable |
| where do the kids live. But there's actually another kind | | | | long-term home for the children. |
| of custody, which is equally important - especially if | | | | - The ability of the children to adjust to a move, |
| you're the parent who doesn't have physical custody. | | | | assuming the parent is moving. |
| The other kind of custody is legal custody, which | | | | - The opinion of the children, depending on how old the |
| describes the right of a parent to help make decisions | | | | children are. |
| involving the child's well-being: where the child goes to | | | | - Whether allegations of abuse have been levied |
| school, the religion the child is raised in, medical | | | | against one or both of the parents. |
| treatment for the child, and so on. In almost all divorces, | | | | These are just a few of the many different aspects |
| both parents are granted legal custody. | | | | by which the court determines physical custody. |