Child Custody Research Paper

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Pages: 3

Legal separation, divorce or simply the break-up of a relationship can have devastating affects on a child. A child naturally loves both their mother and father and needs and deserves the love and support of each parent (unless of course maintaining such relationships would cause harm to the child). Therefore, parents should always keep in mind THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD at all times. Disputes between fighting adults oftentimes involve child custody. Here are the basics to keep in mind regarding California child custody laws.

In California and the majority of other states there are four legal forms of child custody rights: (1) joint legal custody, (2) sole legal custody, (3) joint physical custody and (5) sole physical custody.

In most cases, parents automatically have Joint Legal Custody of their minor children, whether the parents live together or separately. Joint legal custody means that the parents share the right and responsibility to make important decisions about their children's health, education and welfare. Such decisions might include, for example, where the child attends school or what extracurricular activities the child will be involved in. Many parents, especially fathers, are unaware that both parents have equal custodial rights to their children. This right may be altered based on several factors, for example, if a father fails to visit a child that does not live with him, father child custody rights may be altered as a consequence. Custody laws favor the parent who is constant in a child's life.
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Joint Physical Custody means that the child lives with each parent on a regular basis. This does not mean, however, that the children must spend equal amounts of time with each parent.

Sole Physical Custody means the child lives with one parent and the other parent has visitation rights with the