Child Custody and Visitation – An Overview

Questions of custody usually first arise when a divorcing couple with children decides to separate. While some couples immediately reach an agreement on short- or long-term custody, others require court intervention for the intermediate or final decision. Custody may be addressed throughout the divorce process in the following ways:

• Temporary hearing: Shortly after the initial papers are filed seeking dissolution of a marriage, the family court will hold a temporary hearing and issue an order that controls legal aspects of the parties' relationship until it grants the final divorce decree. When custody is contested, the order creates a temporary custody solution. Unless there is evidence that doing so would not be in the best interests of the child, temporary custody is typically granted to the parent who stays in the marital home. Temporary custody orders should have no bearing on which parent will ultimately be awarded permanent custody. Depending on the circumstances, however, the temporary custody order may indicate which parent the court thinks is the more suitable.
• Mandatory mediation: Many states now require that parties in a contested divorce attempt mediation. Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process in which divorcing couples work with a specially trained neutral third party in an attempt to resolve their disagreements. Parents may resolve child custody while keeping other issues like property division open for a judge to decide. Parents who determine custody arrangements through mediation can include a provision in their final divorce agreement making it mandatory to return first to the mediation process to resolve future custody and visitation disputes.
• Custody evaluation: If the parties are unable to reach an agreement regarding custody, most courts will order a custody evaluation prior to trial. A court-appointed mental health professional such as a psychologist or a social worker usually conducts the custody evaluation. The evaluation includes interviews with both parents and the children, observation of the children, conversations with teachers, and possible psychological testing of both parents and children. It can take four to twelve weeks to conclude a custody evaluation and when a custody evaluation has been ordered, the court usually will not enter a final custody determination until the evaluation has been completed.
• Trial: Every state has statutes and procedures for the legal resolution of disputed child custody. While specific standards differ from state to state, most courts decide contested custody cases based upon a determination of what arrangement is in the best interests of the child. Considerations that go into a best interest determination may include review of the child's age and attachment to the parent who has been the primary caretaker, parental physical and mental health, any history of domestic violence, and the child's wishes depending upon the age of the child and the motivation for the preference.