[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question","text":"Child custody concerns more than determining where the child will live, or physical custody. The other consideration is which parent will make important decisions about the child\u2019s education, medical care and other critical aspects in the child\u2019s upbringing. This is called legal custody. When parents go through a split in South Carolina, they can work with each other and arrive at a parenting plan to submit to the custody court for approval. This plan will spell out all aspects of raising their children, including how much time each parent spends with the child (physical custody) and who makes decisions (legal custody).  If one parent serves as the child\u2019s primary caretaker, then the other parent may receive visitation rights. The parenting plan should detail how the arrangement will work. For instance, will the parent have visitation every other weekend or once a month? How will holidays and vacations work? Will the parent drop off the child at the other parent\u2019s house, or will they have a neutral meeting place?  If either parent challenges custody, a court will order the parents to go through mediation in order to reach a parenting plan. If mediation fails to lead to an agreement, then the custody court will ultimately decide after listening to the custody proceedings. Typically, a court will appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate and make a recommendation on which custody arrangement would serve the child\u2019s \u201cbest interests\u201d \u2013 the guiding standard in all child custody cases in South Carolina.","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question1","text":"When it comes to choosing a child custody lawyer in Rock Hill, SC, you want representation you can trust. You need an attorney who is aggressive enough to stand up to the other side but also compassionate enough to understand how difficult this entire process can be.  You should ask questions and understand how much experience a prospective attorney has with handling these types of matters. You want an attorney who will listen to you and respond to your needs and goals. If you want one thing to happen, and your attorney ignores your wishes, it could lead to a frustrating if not heartbreaking outcome.","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Answer1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Child Custody Process in South Carolina?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Are Things to Look for in Choosing a Child Custody Lawyer in Rock Hill?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Question1"}],"name":"Rock Hill Child Custody Lawyers","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#FAQPage"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Question","name":"What is the Child Custody Process in South Carolina?","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#Quantity"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Family Law","item":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Child Custody","item":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/family-lawyers\/child-custody\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]