How is child custody determined?

In California, child custody is determined by the court in order to protect the best interests of the child. The court considers a variety of factors, including the parents’ ability to provide a stable home environment, their ability to effectively cooperate on parenting decisions, the wishes of the child if they are old enough, and more. The court may choose to grant sole legal custody to one parent, or grant both parents joint legal custody. Sole legal custody means that one parent has the exclusive right to decide matters of education, healthcare, and religious upbringing for the child. On the other hand, joint legal custody allows both parents to make decisions regarding the child. When determining physical custody arrangements, the court considers the same factors as legal custody. The court may grant sole physical custody to one parent, or grant both parents joint physical custody. Sole physical custody means that the child lives with one parent predominantly, while joint physical custody means that the child lives with both parents in some fashion, such as an alternating schedule. Ultimately, the court will make a decision that prioritizes the best interests of the child, taking into account the wishes of the parents if they are in alignment with the best interests of the child. The court may also order an evaluation by a custody evaluator or a forensic psychologist to determine the best interests of the child.

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