| There are essentially 2 types of joint custody when it | | | | judgment. |
| comes to the care of children in a failed relationship. | | | | There is a strong presumption of joint custody in about |
| 1) Joint Legal Custody | | | | 35 states in the U.S. but this does not mean that joint |
| This involves both parents making the important | | | | custody will necessarily follow. The court will look at |
| decisions in the child's life, even though one of the | | | | both parents parenting skills and look for substance |
| parents may have sole physical custody. | | | | abuse issues and anything else which may render the |
| 2) Joint Physical Custody | | | | parent an unsuitable parent for sole or joint physical |
| This involves the child living with each parent in turn | | | | custody. |
| according to an agreed schedule. | | | | For this reason forearmed is forewarned and any |
| The schedule will be decided upon by the court if the | | | | parent who is going through a failed relationship has a |
| parents can not agree and the paramount issue and | | | | responsibility to do a little research on the whole area |
| influencing factor is always what is best for the child. | | | | to allow them put their best foot forward and obtain |
| Custody cases can be very troubling and traumatic for | | | | joint custody of their child..at least. |
| all concerned and can run for years. The emotional | | | | Armed with this knowledge, particularly for the joint |
| and financial costs can be very high and that is why | | | | custody laws favoured by your state, will reduce |
| agreement should be reached as to the custodial | | | | some of the understandable anxiety in a very troubling |
| arrangements for the child if at all possible. | | | | time. |
| If this does not happen then the court will impose it's | | | | |