Legal custody determines who has the ability to make decisions for the children, such as the type of medical care the children receive or where they go to school. Physical custody is who actually has the children. Legal custody may be sole or joint while physical custody may be primary (one parent) or shared (if both parents have the child for more than 30 percent of the time).
In Alaska, the law presumes that children should have equal access to both parents. This means that no parent has the right to prevent the other parent from seeing the children. The court determines physical custody in accordance with the best interest of the child.
The laws surrounding child custody are complicated, and our team is ready to provide you with child custody solutions.
The most common problems involve the splitting of a service member’s military pension and associated benefits, real and personal property division, and child custody planning. The unique challenges require an experienced team with a strong understanding of the state and federal laws that govern military divorce.
Establishing paternity is critical for many reasons. First, the father may agree to support the child only to change his mind. Some benefits are available to the child only if paternity has been established. Establishing paternity can make a significant difference in a child’s health, financial outlook, and identity.
Spousal Support is a monthly payment of money made from one spouse to the other. The court may order spousal support to be paid before the divorce is final, after the divorce, or both. In most cases, the court orders spousal support for a specific purpose and a limited amount of time.
