How Does Child Custody and Visitation Work During a Divorce in Harrisburg?
Your child’s health, safety, and happiness mean the world to you. Upon getting a divorce, you may feel uneasy and concerned about not being able to see your child daily. At Purdy Law Office, we understand the stress you are under regarding your child’s living arrangements and general welfare.
Our child custody attorneys discuss how Pennsylvania courts determine custody arrangements and the benefits of hiring skilled counsel.
Physical and Legal Custody
In discussing child custody, it is crucial to understand the difference between physical and legal custody. Physical custody describes which parent the child resides with most of the time. Parents can share physical custody. One parent may retain primary custody while the other may have partial physical custody.
In contrast, legal custody describes which parent will be responsible for making medical, educational, recreational, and religious decisions on behalf of the child. One parent may retain sole legal custody, or both may share the duty of making these significant decisions.
Visitation
Generally, if one parent is granted sole physical custody, the other parent may be granted visitation rights. Visitation describes the time a non-custodial parent can spend with their child. The court will typically set up a visitation schedule specifying when, where, and how often visits occur.
What are the Best Interests of the Child Standard?
Under 23 Pa.C.S. §5328, the court considers the following factors in determining the best interests of the child:
- Which parent is most likely to ensure the child’s safety
- Any abuse or history of abuse
- Each party’s parental duties
- The need for stability in the child’s education and community life
- The child’s preference, based on the child’s age and maturity
- Which parent is more likely to maintain a nurturing and stable environment for the child
- Which parent is more likely to tend to the child’s daily needs
- How close each parent lives to one another
- Each party’s ability to take care of the child or arrange for childcare
- If either parent or any household member has a history of abusing drugs or alcohol
- The mental and physical condition of each party and each party’s household members
- Any other relevant factors the court determines to be relevant
Experienced Counsel Offering a Nurturing Approach
Post-divorce, you are handed the task of co-parenting your child with your relationship with your spouse being severed, requiring you to rely on institutions to pave the way for you. Worse yet, if you and your former spouse cannot agree concerning your child’s living arrangements or who will oversee essential decisions, you may need to rely on a judge to decide for you.
Our Harrisburg child custody attorneys know that conflict is the last thing you want. Unfortunately, failing to take the initiative will only result in heartache. Our legal team is not afraid to advocate on your behalf to ensure your child’s interests are prioritized.
Stressed Over Custody or Visitation? Speak with Our Family Law Attorneys Today
Nobody can fully comprehend the emotional pain of not seeing your child daily. At Purdy Law Office, our Harrisburg child custody lawyers are committed to hearing your concerns and making well-informed decisions regarding your family’s welfare. While it is improbable that you and the other parent will be satisfied with the outcome, we promise to explore every avenue to meet your child’s needs. To arrange your consultation, contact us online or by phone today.