What does legal custody mean in California?
Under California law, “joint legal custody” means that both parents share the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child. The fact that parents share joint legal custody, however, does not necessarily mean they will share joint physical custody.
What happens when parents share joint legal custody?
Parents who share joint legal custody must continue to communicate with one another in order to reach joint decisions. Even when one or both parents are reluctant at first, the outcome can be very beneficial for the child.
How is new California law may affect child Cust-guides?
(c) If the child is 14 years of age or older and wishes to address the court regarding custody or visitation, the child shall be permitted to do so, unless the court determines that doing so is not in the child’s best interests.
Can a parent have custody of a child in California?
In California, either parent can have custody of the children, or the parents can share custody. The judge makes the final decision about custody and visitation but usually will approve the arrangement (the parenting plan) that both parents agree on.
What does joint legal custody mean in California?
“Joint legal custody” generally means both parents shall share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of the children. Simple enough?
Parents who share joint legal custody must continue to communicate with one another in order to reach joint decisions. Even when one or both parents are reluctant at first, the outcome can be very beneficial for the child.
Can a person lose custody of a child in California?
Within the context of a family court proceeding, California law is very clear that physical abuse is a proper reason to lose custody of a child. Both legal custody and physical custody may be lost as a result of child abuse.
(c) If the child is 14 years of age or older and wishes to address the court regarding custody or visitation, the child shall be permitted to do so, unless the court determines that doing so is not in the child’s best interests.
Is it legal to have joint custody in California?
Joint legal custody in California, absent a stated objection, does not allow one parent to just pick up and move away.