Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reservedThe Pros and Cons of Joint Legal Custody Between ParentsUnderstand the Different Types of Child Custody Before Settling in CourtDecide Whether Sole Physical Custody Is the Best Option for YouWin Child Custody by Showing the Courts That You're the Better ParentYour Most Commons Child Custody Questions, AnsweredStrategies for How to Appear in Court for Winning Full Child CustodyOvercoming the Obstacles of Gaining Sole Custody of Your KidsHow the Non-Custodial Parent Can Be a Part of Their Child's LifeHow Does the Death of a Parent Affect Child Support Payments?How to Make Custody Official for Protecting GrandchildrenTips for Drafting a Suitable Child Custody Agreement

While this is less common, it is a more equitable solution.

Whether you are planning a divorce or you are in the midst of NEGLECT: If a parent has a history of neglecting the child, it is likely this neglect would continue in … The reasons to lose custody of a child written in this article are not the only ones that exist.

If the other parent has any visitation rights, relocation jeopardizes his/her rights and therefore relocation is an issue that has to be addressed by the court.

When one parent is granted this by the court, that doesn't take away the other parent's right to be a part of their child's life. For that to happen, they need to also have sole legal custody. Before you attempt to get sole legal custody, ask yourself if you are pursuing this route because it is Children benefit from having active relationships with both parents.

Parents should think carefully before they get involved in the dependency court system.

Physical custody relates to where the child lives and who has primary care of the child. Sole custody usually means the other parent still has parental rights.

Kids benefit tremendously from having different perspectives and approaches in their lives. Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Courts do not grant sole custody unless there is a legitimate reason. The goal of the court is to keep the family unit as cohesive as possible.The court may also grant sole physical custody of your child to you if your child's other parent agrees. But pursuing sole legal custody without a sound reason will likely be denied in family court. Sean is a fact checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. This is not meant to provide you with additional money for yourself but instead is a means to help keep your child in the same financial position as if the family was still together.Custody battles are emotional and draining. A parent may petition the court to give up his or her parental rights and any custody of the child. Full custody is when both legal and physical custody are awarded to …

And when you have proper legal grounds and evidence to back up your claims, you give the judge a reason to change custody. Legal custody refers to which parent has the right to make decisions for the child, including decisions related to education, religion, childcare, healthc… Regardless, if a mother gives up full custody of her children, she loses her right to make decisions regarding her child.

If both parents are available and fit to make reasonable decisions, sole legal custody is not the best option and courts are unlikely to grant that request.

If you can, focus on co-parenting effectively and your kids will benefit in the long run.

This means you need not consult with your child's other parent about where your child will live, attend school, etc.

Dependency courts award sole custody on a frequent basis and is generally the most common place where the concept of sole custody in which the other parent is completely cut off is seen. But as with granting sole physical responsibility, sole legal custody will require a great deal of evidence from you indicating that it is in your child's best interest.If the court awards you both physical and legal responsibility of your child, you will have sole custody. Having legal authority gives you the ability to make decisions on behalf of your child, such as schooling, after school activities, religious beliefs, and medical decisions.If, however, a court finds that it is in your child's best interest to make you the sole legal custodian as well, the court will do so.