It is important for parents who are considering divorce in the St. Louis County and Missouri area to understand how child custody is determined where they live. This can help improve the outcome when divorcing parents need to sort out one of their most precious concerns regarding custody of their children following a divorce.

When making child custody determinations, certain factors are used to determine what is in the child’s best interests. The child’s best interest is the governing consideration for child custody concerns. The factors the family law court uses to determine what is in the best interests of the child includes the child’s need to maintain close relationships with both parents; any planned relocation; the wishes of the child; the mental and physical well-being of each of the parties; the child’s wishes; the willingness of each of the parents to help foster a healthy relationship with the other parent; each parent’s proposed parenting plan and wishes for the child; and any history of abuse or neglect.

There are five primary types of child custody arrangements family law courts in Missouri consider. These include joint physical and legal custody to both parents; joint physical custody to both parents and sole legal custody to one parent; joint legal custody to both parents and sole physical custody to one parent; sole physical and legal custody to one parent; and any custody or visitation by third parties including grand parent visitation. Physical custody generally refers to who the child lives with while legal custody refers to which parent makes important decisions for the child such as healthcare, education and religious decisions.

Child custody is one of the concerns many divorcing parents will have at the top of their list. Understanding how seriously the family law process takes child custody arrangements and how they are determined can help parents effectively resolve their child custody concerns.