What types of custody orders are issued in Kansas?

When child custody is being decided upon, a judge must weigh several different factors that will later help him/her decide what type of agreement to issue that is going to be in the best interest of the child. The following four agreements are the most common types that are issued in a custody order in Kansas:

Sole Custody

When a judge awards sole custody to a parent, it means one parent is given the right to make all the major decisions that pertain to the child’s upbringing. While the other parent may be awarded visitation rights, the parent who has been awarded sole custody is who the child will reside with. The Kansas Bar Association says sole custody is generally awarded when one parent is not involved, whether it is because they are serving a sentence for a criminal offense or because they suffer from mental incapacity.

If a parent is looking to obtain full custody of their child, they should be represented by a Kansas child custody lawyer who can help them prove this would be in the best interest of the child.

Joint Custody

Joint custody is an arrangement that allows both parents to share their input in how their child is going to be raised. When a judge awards joint custody in a case, it usually means the child will reside primarily with one parent while the other parent will be awarded time to spend with their child. Although many assume joint custody means both parents are given equal amounts of time to spend with their child, this is only true when a judge orders shared physical custody. When shared physical custody is awarded, this means the child is given the opportunity to spend equal amounts of time with their parents.

Generally, a judge will award this when it is in the best interest of the child and then the child’s parents live relatively close to each other so that they are able to keep up with the terms outlined in their arrangement.

Divided Custody

When more than one child is involved in a child custody case, the court may decide to award one parent with custody over one child and the other parent with custody over the other child. Although both parents will be given visitation rights, each child will reside primarily with one parent.

Non-Parental Custody

This type of arrangement may be used when “the court believes a child’s parents are unfit or that the child is in need of care.” In some cases, the court may award temporary custody to the child’s grandparents for the time being.

If a parent in Kansas is looking to file a custody petition or is in the middle of a custody battle, they should only be represented by the best Kansas child custody lawyer who is going to look out for their best interests. To find a custody attorney in Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, or any other city in the State of Kansas, contact USAttorneys.com for assistance.