CHILD PHYSICAL CUSTODY ORDERS YOU MAY NOT THINK ABOUT

When you think of child custody orders one immediately thinks about who has physical custody and what is the parenting plan or visitation schedule.  Besides these main items, the Court will consider numerous other custody orders.  Following is a discussion of many additional provisions a person can add to a general physical custody order.

*    Notification of parent's current address: Each party must notify the other of any change of current address of residence or work.  Neither parent can use this information for purposes of harassment or invading the privacy of the other.

*    Notification of proposed move of child: Each parent must notify he other of any planned change of residence of the child.  The notice must state the planned address including the county and state of the new residence.  The notice must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

*    Child Care: The parents must let the other know of the name, address, and telephone number of the child's regular child-care provider.

*    Right of First Option of Child Care:    If a child requires child care while the child is in the custody of one of the parents, the other parent must be given the first opportunity with as much prior notice as possible to care for the child before other arrangements are made.  Usually this type of order does not include regular child care needed when a parent is working.

*    Canceled Parenting Time: If the noncustodial parent fails to arrive at the appointed time and fails to notify the custodial parent that he or she will be late, the visitation can be considered canceled after some specified time wait.  Further, the custodial parent must give the noncustodial parent as much notice as possible if the child is ill and unable to participate in scheduled time with the other parent.  A doctor's excuse can be required.

*    Phone Contact Between Parents and Children: The children can have telephone access to the parents and the parents can have telephone contact with the children, all at reasonable times and reasonable durations.  The schedule phone contact can be scheduled and the parents and third parties can be ordered not to listen to or monitor the calls.

These are some of the additional orders a person can request when discussing physical custody of the children.  There are several other additional provisions that can included in a physical child custody order.