| Custody
& Timesharing/Visitation
If you are a parent, your children are probably your greatest concern.
There is no such thing as “standard” timesharing/visitation.
The arrangements that work for one family won’t necessarily meet
your needs or those of your children. Significant time and attention must
be spent on formulating the right plan for physical and legal custody
of your children.
Legal custody determines who gets to make decisions about
your children. In most circumstances, the court is going to award joint
legal custody to the parents, though this is not always the case.
Initial Custody Determinations
Initial custody determinations are based on a host of factors including
the child’s physical and mental needs, the physical and mental condition
of the parents, the child’s sibling, peer, and extended family relationships,
the relationships between the child and each parent (past, present, and
future), each parent’s willingness to support the child’s
relationship with the other parent and to work cooperatively with that
other parent, any history of abuse, and, in some circumstances, the preference
of the child.
Contact Us About
This Service
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| Custody & Time Sharing FAQ |
| Question: |
What if my spouse and I have trouble reaching joint decisions regarding the children? |
| Answer: |
The court may decide to give one parent the ultimate decision making authority after full consultation with the other parent, or a parent may be granted sole legal custody. |
| Question: |
At what age can the child decide where they want to live? |
| Answer: |
Technically speaking, at the age of majority, which is 18 in Virginia. Prior to that time, the court can decide that the child's preference should not be honored, if so voiced, because it is not in the child's best interests. |
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