Child Custody and Visitation Information by State
By Jade Yeban, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq. | Last reviewed June 22, 2023
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States establish their own family laws, including those that govern child custody and visitation. Courts will follow these laws in awarding and enforcing child custody and visitation orders.
Below are links to child custody and visitation legal information at the national and state levels. The sources include information on parenting plans and agreements where available.
You might find what you want on the state-specific Family Courts and Family Law Forms pages.
How States Decide Custody Generally
Most states follow the best interests of the child standard to make custody decisions. Courts will consider various factors to decide the custody of the child. Factors include the child's needs, the ability of each parent to provide child care, and both parents' physical and mental health.
The court will also consider the parent-child relationship between each parent and the child. The court will use these factors to order a custody arrangement or enter a visitation order. Ultimately, the court prioritizes the safety and well-being of the child.
There are different types of custody. The court may order joint physical custody, joint legal custody, or sole custody of the minor child. Legal custody means a parent can make major decisions about the child's life. This includes decisions about health care, medical care, or education. Physical custody is where a child primarily lives.
If a parent is “unfit" by the court, the court may order the non-custodial parent to undergo a support order. The non-custodial parent may have to pay child support to the custodial parent.
National
- State Laws
- Grandparent Visitation Rights
- The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [PDF] (DOJ)
Alabama
- Alabama Laws
- Alabama Child Custody Laws
- Self-Help Legal Info: Child Custody (Alabama Legal Aid)
Alaska
- Alaska Laws
- Alaska Child Custody Laws
- How to Make a Parenting Plan (Alaska Court System)
- Modifying Child Custody and Child Support (Alaska Court System)
Arizona
- Arizona Laws
- Arizona Child Custody Laws
- Family Court Forms (Arizona Judicial Branch-Maricopa County forms)
Arkansas
- Arkansas Laws
- Arkansas Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Visitation (Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration)
California
- California Laws
- California Child Custody Laws
- Custody and Visitation Information (California Courts)
- Child Custody Mediation (California Courts)
Colorado
- Colorado Laws
- Colorado Child Custody Laws
- How Family Mediation May Work For You [PDF] (Colorado Judicial Branch)
- Modifying Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (Colorado Judicial Branch)
Connecticut
- Connecticut Laws
- Connecticut Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody Actions in Connecticut [PDF] (Connecticut Judicial Branch)
Delaware
- Delaware Laws
- Delaware Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody Overview (Delaware State Courts)
- Registration of Foreign Custody Orders [PDF] (Delaware State Courts)
District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Laws
- District of Columbia Child Custody Laws
- Custody and Visitation Form [PDF] (LawHelp.org)
Florida
- Florida Laws
- Florida Child Custody Laws
- Self-Help Information (Florida Courts)
Georgia
- Georgia Laws
- Georgia Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody (State of Georgia)
- Child Access and Visitation (Georgia Dept. of Human Services)
Hawai'i
- Hawai'i Laws
- Hawai'i Child Custody Laws
- Family Courts (Hawai'i State Judiciary)
Idaho
- Idaho Laws
- Idaho Child Custody Laws
- Paternity, Custody, Visitation, and Child Support Forms (State of Idaho)
Illinois
- Illinois Laws
- Illinois Child Custody Laws
- Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (Illinois General Assembly)
Indiana
- Indiana Laws
- Indiana Child Custody Laws
- Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (Indiana Judiciary)
Iowa
- Iowa Laws
- Iowa Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody (Iowa Judicial Branch)
Kansas
- Kansas Laws
- Kansas Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody, Support, and Visitation Rights (Kansas Bar Association)
Kentucky
- Kentucky Laws
- Kentucky Child Custody Laws
- Custody and Parenting Time (Legal Aid Network of Kentucky)
Louisiana
- Louisiana Laws
- Louisiana Child Custody Laws
- Divorce: Who Gets Custody? Who Pays Support? [PDF] (Louisiana State Bar Association)
- Child Support Enforcement Access and Visitation (Department of Children & Family Services)
Maine
- Maine Laws
- Maine Child Custody Laws
- Parental Rights and Responsibilities (Maine Judicial Branch)
Maryland
- Maryland Laws
- Maryland Child Custody Laws
- Divorce and Custody Mediation (People's Law Library of Maryland)
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Laws
- Massachusetts Child Custody Laws
- Planning for Shared Parenting [PDF] (Massachusetts Association of Family and Conciliation Courts)
- Massachusetts Law About Child Custody (Massachusetts Government)
Michigan
- Michigan Laws
- Michigan Child Custody Laws
- Michigan Parenting Time Guideline (Michigan Courts)
- Custody and Parenting Time (Michigan Legal Help)
Minnesota
- Minnesota Laws
- Minnesota Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Parenting Time (Minnesota Judicial Branch)
Mississippi
- Mississippi Laws
- Mississippi Child Custody Laws
- Mississippi Law on Custody and Visitation [PDF] (The Mississippi Bar)
Missouri
- Missouri Laws
- Missouri Child Custody Laws
- Family Law Resource Guide [PDF] (The Missouri Bar)
Montana
- Montana Laws
- Montana Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody, Parenting Plans, Visitation (Montana Judicial Branch)
Nebraska
- Nebraska Laws
- Nebraska Child Custody Laws
- Establishing Paternity, Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support (State of Nebraska Judicial Branch)
- Family Law and Domestic Violence (Legal Aid of Nebraska)
Nevada
- Nevada Laws
- Nevada Child Custody Laws
- Filing for Custody, Paternity, and Child Support (Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada)
- Family Law Self-Help Center (Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada)
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Laws
- New Hampshire Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Visitation (New Hampshire Law Library)
New Jersey
- New Jersey Laws
- New Jersey Child Custody Laws
- Kinship Care (New Jersey Department of Children and Families)
New Mexico
- New Mexico Laws
- New Mexico Child Custody Laws
- Establishing Parentage, Custody, or Child Support (New Mexico Second Judicial District)
New York
- New York Laws
- New York Child Custody Laws
- Custody (New York Courts)
North Carolina
- North Carolina Laws
- North Carolina Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody (North Carolina Judicial Branch)
North Dakota
- North Dakota Laws
- North Dakota Child Custody Laws
- Parenting Time (North Dakota State Health & Human Services)
- Establishing Custody (Residential Responsibility) and Visitation (Parenting Time) (North Dakota Courts)
Ohio
- Ohio Laws
- Ohio Child Custody Laws
- Ohio Law Guides Parenting Plans in Divorce and Custody Cases (Ohio State Bar Association)
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Laws
- Oklahoma Child Custody Laws
- Standard Visitation Schedule and Advisory Guidelines [PDF] (Oklahoma State Courts Network)
- Co-Parenting Through Divorce [PDF] (Oklahoma State University)
Oregon
- Oregon Laws
- Oregon Child Custody Laws
- Custody and Parenting Time (Oregon State Bar)
- Basic Parenting Plan Guide (Oregon Judicial Branch)
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Laws
- Pennsylvania Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody [PDF] (Pennsylvania Bar Association)
- Custody Proceedings (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania)
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Laws
- Rhode Island Child Custody Laws
- Family Court Mediation Program (Rhode Island Judiciary)
South Carolina
- South Carolina Laws
- South Carolina Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody (South Carolina Bar)
- Visitation Rights After Divorce or Separation (South Carolina Bar)
South Dakota
- South Dakota Laws
- South Dakota Child Custody Laws
- Custody and Visitation Rights (South Dakota Codified Laws)
Tennessee
- Tennessee Laws
- Tennessee Child Custody Laws
- Parenting Plan Forms and Information (Administrative Office of the Tennessee Courts)
- Child Support Program Fact Sheet [PDF] (Tennessee Department of Human Services)
Texas
- Texas Laws
- Texas Child Custody Laws
- Handbook for Non-Custodial Parents [PDF] (Office of the Attorney General)
- Child Custody and Support (Texas State Law Library)
Utah
- Utah Laws
- Utah Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Parent-Time (Utah Courts)
- Parenting Plans (Utah Courts)
Vermont
- Vermont Laws
- Vermont Child Custody Laws
- Kinship Care (Vermont Department for Children and Families)
- Child Custody and Visitation (Vermont Legal Help)
Virginia
- Virginia Laws
- Child Custody Laws
- Custody, Visitation, and Child Support Forms (Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help)
- Spare The Child [PDF] (Virginia State Bar)
Washington
- Washington Laws
- Washington Child Custody Laws
- Washington Parenting Law for Unmarried Couples Who Are Separating (Washington Law Help)
- Parenting Plan Form [PDF] (Washington Courts)
West Virginia
- West Virginia Laws
- West Virginia Child Custody Laws
- Parenting Plan [PDF] (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals)
- Parenting Plan Instructions [PDF] (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals)
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Laws
- Wisconsin Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Visitation (Wisconsin State Law Library)
Wyoming
- Wyoming Laws
- Wyoming Child Custody Laws
- Child Custody and Child Support (Equal Justice Wyoming)
Get Professional Legal Help with Your Child Custody Case
Child custody and visitation information varies by state. Forms and other resources are available. But, nothing matches the support that an experienced family law attorney can provide. They are well-versed in the laws of your state and can be your strongest advocate with the court. They can help you get a final court order on child custody.
Get started today by finding a skilled family law attorney in your state.
Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?
- Both parents can seek custody of their children — with or without an attorney
- An attorney can help get the custody and visitation agreement you want
- An attorney will advocate for your rights as a parent
A lawyer can help protect your rights and your children's best interests. Many attorneys offer free consultations.
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Helpful Links
Don't Forget About Estate Planning
Once new child custody arrangements are in place, it’s an ideal time to create or change your estate planning forms. Take the time to add new beneficiaries to your will and name a guardian for any minor children. Consider creating a financial power of attorney so your agent can pay bills and provide for your children. A health care directive explains your health care decisions and takes the decision-making burden off your children when they become adults.