There are many different scenarios in which two parents will need to determine how to divide child custody. While custody is often associated with divorce cases, it also arises in other situations.
Divorce or Legal Separation
When two parents are married and they decide to end the marriage, they will need to sort out custody issues before the court will grant the final divorce. Often, judges will issue temporary custody orders during the divorce case if the parents are not living together.
Even if parents are not yet ending their marriage under the law, they might be seeking a legal separation. This type of case also requires the parents to divide their custody rights.
Paternity Cases and Unmarried Parents
Some child custody cases happen outside of a divorce or legal separation. If two parents are unmarried and living separately, they will need to figure out custody matters. If paternity is disputed and one parent files a paternity case, and the court rules in favor of the paternity suit, the judge will then have to address child custody between the two parents.
Custody involves both physical and legal custody, which refer to how parents share physical time with the child and how parents share decision-making authority for the child, respectively. Both issues are highly important to ensure that you and your child are able to have a continuing and meaningful relationship into the future.
Let a Manhattan Beach Child Custody Attorney Help
Whether you have a paternity case, are getting divorced, or simply need to address custody questions on their own, a Manhattan Beach child custody lawyer from Furubotten Law is ready to help. Contact us to discuss how we can protect your parental rights and handle every aspect of your custody case and any related family law matters.