Being home to top divorce lawyers in Grand Rapids MI, here at the Law Offices of Sean Patrick Cox, we are no strangers to divorce cases. Over the years, we’ve seen many divorce proceedings turn immediately contentious when child custody is involved. Needless to say, child custody is a very delicate issue and most divorce attorneys in Michigan agree.
Custody battles usually occur when parents of a child cannot agree on who should have custody of a child. In such circumstances, the court intervenes to dictate what the rights and obligations of both the parents should be. Now we’ve witnessed a majority of such cases conclude with the parents winning joint custody of the child.
That is not always the case, however, as sometimes courts make the unfortunate decision of granting sole custody of a child to one parent. To understand what motivates a court to pass these judgments, you must first understand the difference between sole custody and joint custody.
And who better to explain these concepts to you than the Law Offices of Sean Patrick Cox… home to the best Grand Rapid Divorce Attorney.
So without much further ado, let’s dive in.
Understanding What Physical and Legal Custody Means
Before you understand what the difference between sole and joint custody is, you need to first understand that custody as a concept in itself is multi-faceted. It involves physical custody – which means the right to decide where the child will reside, and legal custody – which means the right to make significant decisions regarding the child’s welfare.
The court will take many factors into consideration to determine who should have the physical and legal custody of the child. Ultimately, the court will be obligated to operate in the best interest of a child.
Difference between Sole Custody and Joint Custody
Let’s look at both of these concepts individually to clearly understand what the difference between full and joint custody actually entails.
What is Sole Custody?
Sole Custody basically means that only one parent is rewarded the physical and legal custody of a child. The parent with this exclusive right will be able to decide where the child resides. They will also be responsible for making all major decisions regarding a child’s welfare.
The parent without sole custody may be granted visitation rights by the court. This right can be denied based on certain circumstances. Sole custody is only granted if the court finds one of the parents unfit to take care of the child. Sole Custody judgments can be particularly devastating for a parent who loses custody of their child.
Therefore, it is recommended you hire the very best Grand Rapid divorce attorney to represent you (more on this later).
What is Joint Custody?
In joint custody, the court grants both parents physical and legal custody of the child. This may result in the child spending 50% of their time with each parent. An even split, however, is not always possible due to the child’s school life or the parent’s professional obligations. If this is the case, the court may dictate a split agreement regarding physical custody that best serves the interest of the child.
When it comes to legal custody, both parents have the right to make significant decisions that impact the child’s welfare. The parent will, of course, have to consult each other before making those decisions. In some cases, a court may grant joint physical custody but give sole legal custody to only one parent, giving them the exclusive right to make important decisions related to the child. To get a much clearer understanding of the difference between full and joint custody, we suggest you reach out to the top lawyers in Grand Rapid MI, at the Law Offices of Sean Patrick Cox.
Importance of Choosing a Reliable Grand Rapids Divorce Attorney
A divorce can turn out to be the single most difficult thing a person has to go through in their life. It only becomes more emotionally draining when the question of a child’s custody is involved. If you are someone going through a stressful divorce in the Grand Rapids area, then you need the best divorce lawyers in Grand Rapids MI, to yield results that favor you.
Matters concerning family law are one area where the Law Offices of Sean Patrick Cox absolutely excel. Home to top divorce lawyers in Grand Rapids MI, we are well-equipped to provide you with the guidance and representation that serves you well. Over the years, we’ve represented a broad range of clients in cases related to child custody, support, divorce, visitation rights, asset division, etc.
Suffice to say, if an experienced Grand Rapids Divorce Attorney who advocates for your best interests is what you seek, then you know who to call.
Sean Patrick Cox is a lawyer. Sean practices in two main areas, family law, and elder law. he has represented clients in complex divorce cases since 1994.
