After divorce, parents typically share concerns regarding how this decision will impact their kids. For many Mississippi families, they want to provide their kids with stability and security through a reasonable, sustainable custody order. One of the most important aspects of any custody order is understanding the types of custody and how this will impact parenting time and the rights of each parent. The custodial parent is typically the parent who has physical custody or most of the parenting time.
Rights and responsibilities of a custodial parent
The custodial parent is the one who has primary or sole custody of a child. This would be the parent with whom the child spends most of his or her time, and therefore, that parent would retain decision-making authority and other responsibilities. The custodial parent is the one with primary physical custody, which refers to the actual amount of time the parent is with the child.
A parent can have primary custody while still sharing legal custody of the child. Legal custody refers to the right that a parent has to make important decisions for his or her child. These are decisions related to matters such as religious upbringing, education, health care and more.
Seeking the best custody outcome
The intent of any custody order is to protect the best interests of the child above all else. Whether one parent will have primary custody or parents will share custody, it is helpful to understand the types of custody and what they mean. With a reasonable order, kids can maintain strong relationships with both Mississippi parents.
