South Jordan Child Custody Lawyers

Committed to Protecting Your Child’s Best Interests

When a marriage ends, one of the most important decisions involves where the child will live – and how often they will see each parent. This is called “child custody,” and contrary to popular belief, the mother is not automatically granted preference in custody considerations. Rather, the courts will look to decide the child’s best interests, making their well-being and happiness central to any child custody case.

As South Jordan child custody attorneys with over 300 years of combined experience in family law and a range of other practice areas, our team at Pearson Butler will strive to ensure that your rights as a parent are also protected. By considering the different factors involved in custody and lending a listening ear to your side of the story, our full-service law firm will be well-positioned to advocate for your child’s needs, as well as your own.

Contact our child custody team at (801) 683-5813 today to start exploring your legal options.

Types of Custody Arrangements

Terms like “sole custody” and “joint custody” are rarely used anymore, as they do not fit most modern custody arrangements. Instead, Utah courts acknowledge that there are two main forms of child custody, and that the distribution will look slightly different for every family and divorcing couple. Either form of custody can be shared or “split” among both parents, or it can be awarded to a single parent.

The two main types of child custody:

• Physical custody: Governs the physical living arrangements for the child, as well as appropriate visitation schedules or “parenting time” for the other parent.
• Legal custody: Allows a parent to make decisions about the child’s life, including education, religious upbringing and affiliation, medical treatment, and other important choices.

Common Factors Considered in Child Custody

Courts tend to hold that it is the child’s best interest to spend time with both parents, although this time is not always distributed right down the middle. This is why it is rare for one parent to have sole physical and legal custody of a minor, unless there are credible allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Although some parents may assume that the child’s preference reigns supreme in determining custody, the truth is that child custody is one of the most nuanced and complex decisions that a judge will make during a divorce case. Children over the age of 14 may be able to provide more valuable insight into their preferences, but ultimately, the decision rests with the judge overseeing your divorce case.

Here are a few of the most common factors a judge will evaluate when determining custody:

• Each parent's ability to provide the child with adequate living arrangements
• The lifestyles and work schedules of each parent
• The parents’ moral and financial conduct
• Evidence of any abuse, including domestic violence, neglect, and sexual abuse
• The nature of each parent’s relationship with the child
• The co-parenting skills of the couple

At Pearson Butler, we have a comprehensive knowledge of how the family courts work, and we can help answer all your questions about child custody. Our South Jordan child custody lawyers are committed to improving the lives of our clients and making the process less confusing and frustrating for everyone involved.

Call (801) 683-5813 today to contact our family law team for a consultation.