When parents in Ohio separate or divorce, they must make decisions about their children’s living arrangements and who will make important decisions about their care. Understanding the different types of child custody can help you navigate these decisions effectively..
Legal custody
Legal custody gives a parent the authority to make significant decisions regarding the child’s life. This includes decisions about healthcare, education, and religion. In Ohio, parents can share legal custody, which means both parents can participate in these important decisions. If one parent is awarded sole legal custody, that parent has the exclusive right to make decisions for the child without needing the other parent’s input.
Physical custody
Physical custody refers to where the child will live. In Ohio, a parent with physical custody is the one with whom the child will reside the majority of the time. However, this does not mean the other parent will be completely absent from the child’s life. In most cases, the child will spend time with both parents, even if one parent has primary physical custody. The court might award shared physical custody if the parents live relatively close to each other and can maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship.
Shared parenting
Shared parenting is a type of child custody where both parents are actively involved in the child’s life. The parents share physical and legal custody, which means the child will split time between both households. Shared parenting is often recommended when it is in the best interest of the child and when both parents are willing to cooperate. Courts in Ohio prefer shared parenting when parents can work together and make joint decisions for the child’s well-being.
Sole custody
In some cases, the court may grant sole custody to one parent, either legal or physical, when the other parent is unable to care for the child or is not fit to share responsibility. This could occur in cases involving abuse, neglect, or other serious concerns. Sole custody gives the custodial parent full authority over the child’s daily life and decisions.
State law focuses on the best interests of the child, and custody arrangements are made with the child’s safety and well-being as the top priority.