INDIANA CHILD CUSTODY

The custody of your children is likely one of the most important issues you will face as you end your marriage or relationship. There are options for custody and visitation that will affect how often you see your children and the decisions you can make for them. Because this can have a significant impact on your children's wellbeing, you want to make sure you are working with a legal professional to provide the best arrangement for you, your children, and the other parent.

Physical custody defines which parent the child resides with, and which parent is responsible for the care and wellbeing of the child. Legal custody defines the parent who is responsible for making decisions pertaining to the child’s education, health care, etc. Joint legal custody means that both parents will make the decisions together. Court may award joint legal custody if that it is in the best interest of the child. Deciding factors may be suitability of each parent; if the parents are able to communicate and cooperate with each other, if the child has established a close relationship with both parents, if the parties live in close proximity to each other.

Custody is determined with the best interest of the child in mind. Factors taken into consideration may be age and sex of the child, the wishes of the child and the parents ( with more consideration given when a child is at least 14 years old); the relationship the child has with the parents and siblings; the child’s adjustment to school or community; mental health of a parent; patterns of family violence by either parent.

For Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines read here.