What are child custody and visitation rights?

Child custody and visitation rights are the legal rights parents have over the care and control of their children. In Washington state, the court looks to determine what is in the best interests of the children when making decisions on custody and visitation rights. For legal or physical custody, courts may order that one parent have sole or full custody of the children, or that both parents have joint custody. Sole custody gives one parent the right to make decisions and take care of the children, while joint custody gives both parents an equal say in decision making. When it comes to visitation, courts may choose to order visitation rights in a variety of ways. Visitation rights may look like one parent having visitation rights during the weekend, alternating holidays and school breaks, or only having visitation rights with the children being supervised by a third party. It is also possible for courts to order a form of parenting plan that is specific to the needs of the family. Generally, this would involve setting up a plan that outlines how the parents will share the parenting responsibilities, decide legal and physical custody, and how visitation will be arranged.

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