Do I have to pay child support if I have physical custody?
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Do I have to pay child support if I have physical custody?
The short answer is: yes. Shared parenting arrangements that include joint physical custody do not negate child support obligations between parents. When one parent has sole physical custody, typically the other parent will be responsible for making child support payments.
What does it mean when you have sole legal and physical custody?
The term "custody" refers to the legal and physical custody of a child. Legal custody is the authority to make decisions for and about a child. Sole legal custody (also called sole parental responsibility) is when one parent has full responsibility to make major decisions for the child.
Does custodial parent have more rights?
Physical and Legal Custody Often, however, the custodial parent shares "legal custody" of the child with the non-custodial parent. "Legal custody" includes the right to make decisions about the child's education, religion, health care, and other important concerns.
What determines who has custody of a child?
One factor in determining custody is which parent has been the primary caregiver for the child. Some states actually use the term "primary caregiver"; others refer to the parent who is best able to meet the child's needs, who is most willing to accept parental responsibilities, or who has been caring for the child.
