Custody matters are often difficult to work through in a divorce. After all, you both want time with your children and to ensure you have rights in raising them. It is not uncommon for there to be disagreements between parents during custody discussions. When approaching the topic of custody or parenting time, you need to understand that there are two main decisions you will have to make regarding the rights you have to parent your children.
Philly Voice explains that in every custody decision, you will need to determine legal and physical custody. Physical custody is parenting time. It covers where the children live and who they are with physically. This is generally what people think about when they talk about custody.
It is becoming more common for parents to share physical custody or at least come close to having equal time with the children. Traditionally, it was set up where the children lived with one parent and the other parent would see the kids every other weekend and possibly one weeknight. However, courts want to see more parental involvement from both parents, so this type of arrangement is becoming less common.
Legal custody is the right to make decisions for and about your children. The common allocation is equal rights between both parents. It is uncommon for the courts to put legal custody in the hands of only one parent, but it does happen, especially in situations where one parent is not deemed fit to make decisions for the children. For example, if a parent has substance abuse problems or a history of domestic violence.