In most cases, child custody is referred to the dispute between a divorced or separated couple. In some places, courts and legal professionals are beginning to build upon the so-called best interests of the children. This is done by crafting schedules that meet the developmental needs of the children.
The best interests of the child practically apply to safeguard and promote the child’s health, development and welfare. This also provides the child with proper direction and guidance by maintaining personal relations and a direct contact with the child. Moreover, the best interest of the child rule is giving rights to anyone with an interest in a child to act as the child’s legal representative.
In addition, these responsibilities and duties of the rule last until the child reached 16 years old. However, the rule comes with the exception of the responsibility to provide the child with correct guidance, which lasts until the child is aged 18.
The court’s decision about child custody further elaborate as to allowing both parents to have the legal and physical custody over the child is termed as joint custody. However, when one parent has full time custody over some children,while the other parent has full custody over the other children. This is termed as split custody.
The sole physical custody means that child custody will be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the power of the court.
