How to File for Joint Legal Custody of a Child

seek joint legal custody of your chiild

Things You'll Need

• birth certificate
• marriage certificate

Instructions

1. Legal custody is who can make the legal decisions for a child. School, religion, medical, if the parent can move out of state with the child and other major decisions for the child.

   Parents of a child who are married have joint legal custody until a divorce, separation, or a court order changes it.

2. Children born to parents who are not married do not share joint legal custody. By law the mother automatically has sole legal and physical custody. A father would have to file court paperwork to get a court order to be granted joint legal custody.

   You need to locate your local probate and Family Court in your area. Get a copy of your child's birth certificate, if you are married get a copy of your marriage certificate.

3. Once you locate the court go to the court and ask what paperwork and forms you will need to complete to file for joint legal custody of the child. Once you file the paperwork you will need to serve the other party with a copy of the paperwork and and notify them of the court date. This needs to be served by a constable or sheriff, you should ask the Court how you do this.

   Once you do this and get a court date you will go to court and plead your case. You will need to show why you should have joint legal custody. are you involved in the child's medical and school matters, do you know the name of the school and teachers? Is you name on the child's birth certificate and there is no question that you are the father.
   Is there is any past history of domestic violence then the court will not order joint legal custody because clearly the parties can not communicate.