Child Custody and Visitation

Welcome to Lawshelf’s video-course on child custody and visitation. This course covers the basics of child custody and visitation rights awarded to non-custodial parents. We will discuss joint custody and when sole custody is awarded. This is a beginner-level course and no prior knowledge or experience is necessary to take it.

The course starts with discussion of the historical approaches to custody and visitation and how they have changed in recent years. We will explain the differences between physical and legal custody and how and why they are bifurcated. We will also focus on the ubiquitous “best interests of child” standard and how it is applied.

Module 2 looks at the specifics of awarding joint and sole custody and the considerations that go into awarding each. We will also look at the mechanics of administering various types of custody arrangements.

Module 3 turns to visitation. It covers visitation normally awarded to non-custodial parents and when courts can limit or even deny visitation. We will examine the factors that courts consider in making these important determinations. We will also look at third-party visitation (such as for grandparents) and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Troxell v. Glanville on state third-party visitation laws.

Modules 4 and 5 cover modification and enforcement, including rules and conventions that allow for nationwide and international enforcement of child custody awards, including federal and international laws designed to discourage and punish parental “kidnapping.” We also cover the grounds to modification of custody and visitation awards and the procedures for seeking modification.

Best of luck and we welcome your feedback.