Joint vs. Sole Custody
Colorado Springs Child Custody Attorney
If you are in the process of or are considering a dissolution of your marriage and you have children, coming to a child custody agreement is an important part of this process. Whether your divorce is handled in family court or through a mediator, one of the terms of your divorce agreement will be a child custody arrangement. Custody agreements are highly customized in order to meet the specific needs of the family, and most importantly, the best interests of the children.
Your child custody agreement will be based on a number of factors, including:
- The children's relationship with both parents
- The physical and mental capabilities of each parent
- The living arrangements of each parent
- Each parent's income and expenses
- Any prior criminal activity or history of abuse
You and your spouse, either through a series of mediation sessions or in family court, will arrive at a child custody agreement that specifies either joint or sole custody of your children. A Colorado Springs divorce lawyer from Clawson & Clawson, LLP can help you arrive at the most favorable custody agreement for you and your children.
And, as with any component of a divorce agreement, child custody can be modified in many cases. If you are already divorced and are operating under the rules of your current child custody arrangement but you want to petition for a modification, our law firm may be able to help you qualify.
How is child custody decided in Colorado?
Joint Child Custody in Colorado
In joint custody agreements, children typically spend certain nights at one parent's house and the rest of the week at the other parent's house. A joint child custody agreement will involve some right of physical and legal custody for both parents. This shared custody agreement does not necessarily mean that both parents will have equal custody of their children. In these types of agreements, both parents are custodial parents.
This could involve an exact 50/50 split (ex: alternating weeks with mom and dad) or an uneven split such as a 75/25 agreement (ex: one week of each month is spent with dad while the other three are spent with mom). Each child custody agreement is as different and unique as each family. Complications can arise when parents disagree as to who should have custody and what that arrangement should look like.
Sole Child Custody in Colorado
A sole child custody agreement means that only one parent has been given complete physical and legal custodial rights to their children. While the non-custodial parent may be given certain visitation rights so that they can visit with their children intermittently, they will not have the rights and responsibilities of a parent. Children do not live with the non-custodial parent and neither will the non-custodial parent make major decisions such as where the children will attend school or what type of medical treatment they will receive.
Contact Clawson & Clawson, LLP for Experienced Counsel
Coming to a favorable child custody agreement is often not an easy process, but the Colorado Springs child custody lawyers at Clawson & Clawson, LLP exist to make the process as seamless as possible. Family legal issues are one of the most difficult to face, which is why our law firm emphasizes compassionate client service in addition to a tough approach for optimal results. Finding an attorney you connect with and can trust can often make the difference between a successful case and an unfavorable one.
To learn more about how our firm is prepared to help you, please do not hesitate to call for an appointment at (719) 602-5888.