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(801) 254-9450 (801) 254-9450 Parents have a number of different rights when it comes to their children. In situations where the parents are unmarried or going through a divorce, it is up to the court system to determine how they share those rights and obligations. One of the most important questions that arises is which party will take on legal child custody in South Jordan.
These rights can be shared between parents or held by a single party. Going into custody arrangements, it is important to understand how a court decision could impact your relationship with your children. Reach out to a dedicated child custody attorney from Carr | Woodall for guidance in your custody case.
In South Jordan, custody arrangements for children are divided into two main categories: legal custody and physical custody. Understanding the difference between the two is essential for parents navigating a custody case.
Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions about a child’s life. This includes choices about their:
Parents may share joint legal custody, which requires cooperation and communication, or one parent may be awarded sole legal custody if it is in the child’s best interests.
Physical custody is different in that it focuses on where a child lives and who provides day-to-day care. A parent with primary physical custody is the child’s main caregiver, while the other parent typically has scheduled parenting time or visitation. In some cases, parents may share joint physical custody, meaning the child spends significant time living with each parent. The court’s goal is to create a custody arrangement that promotes the child’s stability and overall well-being.
When Utah courts are tasked with deciding which parent will have legal custody over a South Jordan child, they are required to use the best-interest-of-the-child standard. While judges take the wishes of each parent into account, these are minor considerations because the goal is to create a custody arrangement that promotes the child’s stability and overall well-being. This can be difficult for some parents to accept, and in many cases, some parents are unhappy with the court’s final decision.
A judge may make a comprehensive assessment of what is best for a child before awarding one or both parents with legal custody. There is an extensive list of factors that are part of determining what best serves the child, including:
In some cases, a judge may also consider the child’s wishes if they are mature enough to understand what is happening. With all this in mind, our lawyers could help you make the strongest possible argument that your children are best served when you have legal custody.
The most important thing is ensuring your child is in the best position to thrive. As their parent, you have the opportunity to demonstrate that your children benefit from your involvement in important decisions, such as where they attend school or church.
At Carr | Woodall, we understand how important these court decisions could be for cases involving legal child custody in South Jordan. Reach out to learn how we could help during a private consultation with a child custody lawyer.