Child Custody Lawyer In Kansas City, Missouri: Difference Between Legal And Physical Custody

As a child custody lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri, there are differences between legal and physical custody of children that you should be aware of. For many families, the most important issue in a divorce is child custody. Having an experienced child custody lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri who makes children a priority when handling a case is so important.

 

In a vast majority of cases, the law favors joint legal custody. Legal custody has nothing to do with the schedule of when the children reside with each parent. Legal custody is the ability to make major decisions that affect your children’s health, education and welfare. Parents who have joint legal custody make all major decisions together and neither parent has the right to make major decisions for the children without the other parent.

 

In a divorce, the parents must decide, or have the court decide, the issue of physical custody. The options in Missouri are joint physical custody and sole physical custody. The law has specific requirements for a parent to have sole physical custody. An experienced child custody lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri will be able to speak with you about which physical custody option is in your children’s best interest.

 

Joint physical custody can involve many different types of schedules, based on many factors, in order to address your children’s best interests. Joint physical custody can but does not necessarily mean equal time with both parents.  The law favors a schedule that offers the children frequent and meaningful time with both parents. In some families, it is in the children’s best interest to spend equal amounts of time with each parent, which is commonly referred to as a shared or equal parenting schedule. A child custody lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri can help guide you through this process.

 

Child custody cases can be highly contentious but developing a plan that is in your children’s best interests and fosters strong parent/child relationships is the priority of our team. If you are in the Kansas City Metro are and will be going through a divorce, discussing child custody with an experienced child custody lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri is important. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, or feel free to call me at (816) 454-7474 with any questions you have regarding your child custody case.