What Is a Pennsylvania Child Custody Order?

By Sheryl Rentz on July 11, 2012

A divorce is incredibly difficult for all parties involved, but it can be particularly hard when children are part of the equation. Deciding who will have custody of the children and if it will be joint or sole custody, or establishing child visitation guidelines for the parent who does not have sole custody, can be an especially contentious matter for a divorcing pair; however, there are legal means that can help families reach an amicable agreement. One such way to reach a harmonious agreement is to create a child custody order, which is a legal document that sets the terms and conditions of who has custody of a child.

A child custody order can be beneficial for parents, and some of the advantages include:

• Having a fixed custody schedule enforceable by the judge, which tells each parent when they can visit or take the child;
• Giving a parent the right to make legal decisions about his or her child;
• Gaining access to your child if the other parent has control of the child; and
• Giving a parent the rights to have a child live with him or her.

Without a custody order, it is possible that you may not have these legal rights, which may be an advantage to getting this legal document. However, there are a number of reasons parents choose to not create a custody order, and it may be largely because the parents don’t want to get the courts involved and instead choose to create an informal agreement that works well for both parties. This may allow for parents to have equal rights in making decisions in regards to things like living arrangements for the child. Another reason some decide to not establish a child custody order is that a parent may fear that the court will award more custody or visitation rights to the other parent than he or she is comfortable with.

Parents ultimately want what is best for their child, but when it comes to reaching a satisfactory child custody agreement during a divorce process, it can be major source of dissension for the family. Experienced Montgomery County child custody lawyer Sheryl R. Rentz can help families settle issues of child custody as well as any other divorce-related issues that may arise professionally and efficiently. For assistance in your family law case, call (610) 645-0100 to schedule a no-cost consultation.