{"id":351667,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-custody\/who-gets-custody.html"},"modified":"2023-09-21T15:07:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T20:07:33","slug":"who-gets-custody","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/who-gets-custody.html","title":{"rendered":"Who Gets Custody of a Child?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Who Gets Custody of a Child?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Family courts look a many factors in making child custody decisions. This includes physical, legal and joint custody. Court will make a determination based on the best interests of the child. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

One of the biggest questions in a child custody case is, "Who will get custody and visitation rights?" Many factors come into play when answering this crucial question. But there are some general guidelines and considerations that come into play when the court decides on child custody.<\/p>\n

This article looks at the common factors a family court will consider in determining custody<\/a> and the child’s best interests.<\/p>\n

Determining the Child’s Primary Caretaker<\/h2>\n

If both parents can independently come to a mutually agreeable decision, the courts need not intervene. The court will simply approve any reasonable plan.<\/p>\n

But when there is a dispute, courts will consider many factors to decide the primary caretaker. Specifically, the court will want to know which parent handles the following types of parenting tasks:<\/p>\n