Richmond Hill, Georgia Child custody terms

In child custody in Richmond Hill, Georgia , there are various terms that can get thrown around. Generally, it can be pretty easy to misunderstand what precisely these terms mean. Firstly, a term like “custody” has a literal meaning. If you have custody of something, it means that it is physically in your possession. But, few parents would talk about their child as being a “possession” in the way that jewelry or a car might be a possession. Custody, as associated with child custody, is a legal term, which has very specific legal meanings and underpinnings and you must be know what a phrase like “full child custody” means.

In Richmond Hill, Georgia there are two specific areas that child custody refers to. The first area that child custody refers to is the area of legal responsibility and rights. Often unless there is a compelling reason for the judge to rule otherwise, parents will share joint legal custody of their children in a divorce. Both parents have the right and responsibility to take decisions for the child in important areas such as education, instruction in religion, and health care. When parents have shared or joint legal custody, both parents shall have the complete authority to act on the child’s behalf in these areas. If only one parent has complete legal custody, then only that parent has the right to take such decisions. However, it is only in rare cases, such as when one parent has been convicted of child abuse or endangerment, that there will be sole legal custody.

The next concept that child custody refers to is physical custody. Having full physical custody of a child indicates that the child lives with you a vast majority of the time. However it does not mean that the non-custodial parent does not see the child, or that the child cannot reside with the non-custodial parent. It just indicates that the child stays with you primarily. The non-custodial parent shall still typically retain joint legal custody even if you have full child custody in the physical area. Besides, the non-custodial parent may still also have specific visitation rights that you must, by law, comply with even if you have full physical child custody.

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