Parents preparing for divorce in Wisconsin often feel anxious about the future. They worry about custody and what the change in their marital status might mean for their relationship with their children.
Divorcing parents often want favorable custody terms, but they may find the way that Wisconsin handles such matters relatively confusing. People may hope for plenty of time with their children, which they may refer to as custody. However, Wisconsin uses the specialized jargon for parental rights and responsibilities. There is an important difference between custody and placement that parents need to know as they strategize when their rights are at stake.
What does Wisconsin refer to as custody?
The term custody in Wisconsin refers to the responsibility to provide for children by meeting their basic needs. A parent with custody has to provide shelter, nutrition and access to healthcare. Custody also involves the authority to make decisions for minor children. A parent with custody rights can obtain healthcare for a child, enroll them at school or make decisions about their religious observances.
What does placement involve?
Placement has to do with where a child stays on any given day. Also referred to as physical custody or parenting time in other jurisdictions, placement is often what parents prioritize when discussing parenting matters.
However, both custody and placement are important for the parent-child relationship. Parents need to seek not just adequate time via placement of their children but also custody rights that give them the authority to influence their upbringing. Typically, they share time with their children with one another and have to find ways to agree on major decisions about the children’s upbringing.
It can be very difficult for adults facing a divorce or breakup to make concessions regarding the time they spend with their children and the control over their day-to-day lives. If the parents in the family cannot reach their own arrangements, then a family law judge may determine the best division of custody and placement for the family.
Understanding what influences the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities in Wisconsin family law matter can help parents to make informed decisions. People need to understand the language used and the rules that exist if they want to push for the best outcome in a family law matter.