What Is Joint Custody?

Full Video Transcript

Divorce is a difficult situation, but it can be devastating for children involved if there’s an ongoing custody battle as well. While most people think that the mother automatically gets preferential treatment when it comes to child custody and visitation, that isn’t always the case. A lot of times, the mother does get primary physical custody over the children, particularly if they are very young. However, fathers have an equal right to share in their child’s lives, and the courts strive to balance the time the children spend with each parent. Also, the parents tend to share legal custody, which is the right to jointly make decisions about medical issues and the child’s education, etc. Most courts tend to follow legal guidelines put in place by the state law when making custody decisions. For more information, contact an attorney to determine the custody options available for your situation.