What is child custody?

Child custody is a legal term used to describe the rights and responsibilities of both parents to make decisions regarding their child’s upbringing. In Hawaii, the court will determine child custody based on the best interests of the child. When determining the best interests of the child, the court will consider the mental and physical health of the child, the child’s relationship with each parent, the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community, and any past history of abuse or neglect by either parent. In Hawaii, child custody is divided into two parts: legal and physical. Legal custody gives a parent the right to make decisions about the child’s schooling, religious upbringing, and medical care. Physical custody determines which parent the child will live with and the visitation rights of the non-custodial parent. The court may also award joint custody, which means that the parents will share physical and legal custody of the child. In joint custody, the parents must cooperate and communicate with each other in order to make decisions about the child’s upbringing. In some cases, the court may also award sole custody to one parent, giving that parent the right to make decisions without consulting the other parent. No matter what type of custody arrangement is awarded, the court’s main concern is the best interests of the child. Parents should be aware that the court always considers the child’s safety and welfare when making any custody decision.

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