Laws of Child Custody in Washington

The child custody after a divorce doesn’t only determines which parent will get the child, but it also includes these factors like where the child will live and with whom, who will take care of the children regularly and who will make important decisions of the child’s life. Child custody can be sole, or joint or shared, among which joint custody is most popular since 1970s.

Earlier, as the divorces used to be either fault-based or trial labeled, child custody was given to any one parent with the absolute power while cutting off any association with the other parent. But the scenario is changed now. The court now makes it sure that the other parent, who fails to gain child custody, takes part in parenting with the rights of visitation.

If the parents disagree over the issues of child custody, the court gets involved. The court asks questions regarding child support like ‘How much support should be paid’ or ‘can the amount be increases. ‘ Judging all the factors, the court then decides whom to give child custody keeping in mind the “best interest of the children”. If disagreement still looms large, the court then undertakes the guardianship until the child becomes adult.