Colorado courts have the responsibility of deciding child custody cases. The courts’ primary intent in these cases is to do what is in the best interest of the child. With this in mind, the courts have several custody options to choose from.
Sole custody is a common form of custody. It falls under two categories: legal and physical. When you have legal custody, you have full responsibility for making major decisions affecting your child’s welfare. These issues include, but are not limited to, your child’s religious, educational and emotional development. If you have physical custody, it means your child lives with you. According to the Massachusett’s Probate and Family Court, the other parent may visit or spend parenting time as long as it does not violate the child’s best interest.
The other custody options fall under the category of shared custody. In this situation, you may have either legal or physical custody. With legal custody, you make decisions with the other parent regarding your child’s well-being. This includes everything from education to medical care. Physical custody allows your child to divide time between living you and living with the other parent. This ensures your child receives regular contact with both of you.
You can enter into a parental agreement with the other parent. However, the court must still approve this to make sure it reflects the child’s best interest. For instance, the court may require a parent to only have adult-supervised visitation. If the two of you have disputes over the custody agreement, the court can intervene to finalize the arrangements.
This information provided is for educational purposes and is not legal advice.