Child Custody
The two types of custody are legal and physical. Legal custody refers to the decisions made regarding the children’s health, education and welfare. This includes things like choosing the child’s school, deciding when to let the child drive, and choosing the child’s doctor. Joint custody is when both parents share responsibility for the child. Physical custody refers to the time in which a parent has the physical care of the child. It is also referred to as custodial time. Joint physical custody is when each parent has custodial time with the child.
The court’s primary concern in determining custody is the health, safety, and welfare of children. It is California public policy to assure that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage. Parents are encouraged to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing.
Child Support
Child support refers to funds that are paid on a monthly basis to one parent by the other, for the benefit of their child. The amount of support is calculated based on a variety of factors, including both parents’ income.
Child support is calculated separately from spousal support; parties can negotiate spousal support payments, but child support must follow statutory guidelines.
Visitation or Parenting Time
Visitation or Parenting Time represent's a portion of the parent's time that is reserved for the child. This time is laid out as an actual schedule in order to ensure that the child is able to spend time with both parents.
Children have the right to spend time with both parents.