Custody and Parenting Time Establishment

There are three primary issues to be addressed when there are minor children involved in a family court action.  The first issue is legal custody, which has to do with who will be making the major decisions in a child’s life when it comes to medical decisions, educational decisions, and religious decisions.  The second issue is physical custody, which is regarding the child’s primary residence.  The final issue is parenting time, which is the specific visitation schedule for each parent with the child.  When determining custody and parenting time, the courts must look at twelve factors known as the “best interest factors.”  Each factor is weighed equally by the courts.