CHILD CUSTODY

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody

Legal custody refers to the ability to make  decisions on behalf of your child, whereas  physical custody refers to where the child  lives.  

Technically, a parent can have legal custody  without having physical custody.  

Consider all of the child custody options  available to you, including shared parenting  and bird’s nest custody, before deciding on  what type of custody you want to pursue. 

In Florida, Physical Custody refers to time sharing.

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How Is Custody Determined?

A lot of factors go into a court’s decision  about which parent should be awarded child  custody.  

Generally, those factors include the parents’  wishes and ability to provide for the child, in  addition to the current child custody  arrangement and the child’s existing  relationship with each parent. 

However, the court will only determine  whatever is in the best interest of the child.