Child Custody & Support

When people hear the word “custody”, most think of what is known as physical custody. However, there are two types of custody: legal and physical. Physical custody involves where the child lives, and legal custody involves who can make major life decisions for the child (i.e., education, healthcare, and religion). In rendering custody and parenting time decisions, the court evaluates what is in the “best interests of the child”. 

Indiana has developed robust Parenting Time Guidelines, which help create a parenting plan that is in the child’s best interests. These guidelines include recommended parenting time schedules and holiday rotations. Keep in mind that this is the minimum recommended schedule for a noncustodial parent. These guidelines also give parents useful insight into how a court may rule in certain situations, such as when bad weather makes exchanges dangerous, or what to do if a parent can’t exercise their scheduled time. Parents can use these guidelines to help resolve disputes. Follow this link to read the guidelines: https://www.in.gov/courts/rules/parenting/index.html