For parents going through a divorce, navigating child custody and visitation may be a challenging and emotional process. The child’s best interests are the court’s top priority in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the court will take a number of things into account while deciding on custody and visitation schedules. For legal guidance regarding child custody and visitation arrangements during a divorce, it is advisable to speak with a tulsa family lawyer.
The different kinds of custody, the procedure for deciding custody and visitation in Tulsa, and advice for co-parenting following a divorce will all be covered in this article.
Legal and physical custody
Legal custody and physical custody are the two types of custody available in Oklahoma. Legal custody entails the authority to make choices regarding the child’s upbringing, including decisions on their education, health care, and religious upbringing. Where the child will reside is referred to as physical custody. There are numerous possible arrangements for custody, including:
- Sole legal and physical custody: The child resides with one parent, who is primarily responsible for their upbringing and decision-making.
- Joint legal and physical custody: The youngster spends time at each parent’s house while sharing parental care and decision-making responsibilities.
- Sole legal custody with joint physical custody: The child spends time with both parents, but one parent is primarily responsible for their upbringing and decision-making.
- Joint legal custody with sole physical custody: The child lives primarily with one parent, but both parents share responsibility for the child’s upbringing and decision-making.
Process for deciding custody ad visitation
When deciding on custody and visitation schedules in Tulsa, the court will take into account the child’s age and developmental stage, their relationship with each parent, their work schedules, and any prior incidents of domestic abuse or violence. In order to conduct an investigation and make recommendations to the court, the court may also appoint a guardian ad litem or a custody evaluator.
It is important for parents to cooperate once the court has decided on custody and visitation arrangements in order to co-parent successfully. Even after a divorce, this can be challenging, but there are a number of things parents can do to make it simpler. These include:
- Excellent communication with the other parent and a willingness to negotiate to maintain the child’s routines and schedule.
- Observing the other parent’s time with the child with respect and refraining from interfering.
- Avoiding bringing up the other parent in front of the child in a critical or unfavorable way.
- Allowing for modifications to the custody and visitation schedule as the child’s needs grow.
Take Away!
For parents going through a divorce, determining child custody and visitation arrangements can be a challenging and emotional procedure. The child’s best interests are the court’s top priority in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the court will take a number of things into account while deciding on custody and visitation schedules.
In order to effectively co-parent, parents must cooperate, communicate clearly, be willing to compromise, show respect for the other parent’s time spent with the child, and refrain from disparaging the other parent in front of the child. Additionally, it’s critical to be flexible with the custody and visiting schedule as the child’s needs change.
