What You Need to Know about Temporary Child Custody

Temporary child custody refers to a short-term arrangement that enables parents to ensure that their child is well taken care of while the final custody has not been decided yet. As with other types of custody, temporary custody allows the custodial parent to make decisions about everything that involves the child. The person given a temporary custody of a child may decide on the child’s schooling, healthcare, and welfare.

Rules and guidelines involving temporary custody vary from state to state. Typically, a relative such as a grandparent or one of the parents seek temporary custody of a child. Temporary custody is granted once both parents have been informed and have been given the chance to respond to the petition. In addition, every state has specific requirements for temporary custody. You may be allowed not to hire a lawyer to file for the custody. Thus, it pays to understand the process of filing for temporary custody in your state.

Why is temporary custody necessary in some cases? Because finalizing a divorce can take months or even years, it is essential to have rules in place regarding the upbringing of the child. Temporary custody, which indicates when each parent can take care of the child, prevents one of the parents from running off with the child or denying the other parent access to the child. It also ensures stability between the parents during the divorce process. Both parents are authorized to decide alone on behalf of the children if no custody order was given when they separated.

Relatives or non-parents may file for temporary custody if the parents of the child are mentally or physically incapable of taking care of the child.
A temporary custody order may be requested shortly after the divorce petition has been filed. The court grants it in a hearing that is completely separate from that for divorce. The temporary custody hearing may involve the following factors: implementing visitation, child support issues, changes in final custody order, protection from domestic violence, issues regarding the temporary unavailability of the custodial parent, and issues pending an appeal.

Usually, the courts require fewer limitations on evidence presented at temporary custody proceedings than that presented at permanent custody proceedings.

Several things have to be considered when you try to win a temporary custody of your child. Determine the factors of your case that should be focused on so that the judge will decide in your favor. It is also important to pay close attention to all the issues raised at the temporary custody proceeding. The temporary rulings of the judge are crucial to the final decisions involving the support, visitation, and custody of the child. So if you lose temporary custody of your child, you must be prepared for the final custody proceeding.

Before the final hearing, you need to do some things to win permanent child custody. These include maintaining communication with your child, providing money for the child’s support, visiting your child often, and ensuring a stable and secure home environment for your child.