Sole Legal Child Custody v. Joint Legal Child Custody: What a Utah Therapist Should Know

There are two types of child custody Utah marriage and individual therapists should be aware of: (1) physical custody, (2) legal custody.

Physical custody is about which parent kids spend their time with. Specifically, it’s measured by how many overnights the kids spend with each parent.

Legal custody is about who gets to make big decisions for the kids. Big decisions regarding things like: religion, schooling, medical care, psychological care, extracurricular activities.

Legal custody comes in two forms: (1) sole legal custody, (2) share legal custody.

If one parent has sole legal custody, then that parent can, essentially, make all major decisions about the kids without having to consult with the other parent.

This includes decisions regarding putting kids in, or taking kids out of, therapy.

What this means for therapists is when one parent has sole legal custody, you will only need to speak with that parent about treatment. It also means the parent with legal custody can preclude the other parent from obtaining therapy records, and can even preclude the other parent from taking part in the therapy process.

Also, if a parent has sole legal custody, you don’t need the other parent’s agreement in order to release records. One parent is enough.

As you can tell, sole legal custody is a very restrictive, very odd situation.

Now, if both parents have shared legal custody, they must consult about and discuss all major decisions regarding the kids. Usually, they must come to a consensus before moving forward with a decision.

So, therapists must involve both parents in the child therapy process when they share legal custody. Records, updates, therapy plans, the whole bit, it all must be shared.

And therapists must obtain consent from both parents before releasing records.

Now, everything I’ve said above is all from the legal side of things. You’ll want to check with your legal counsel about how you want to handle divorced parents and child therapy.

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Chris Porter

You get what you pay for, and the Brown Family team is worth every penny. We truly appreciated their team-based approach, making sure that every detail of our case was thoughtfully handled. They were incredibly easy to work with, kept us informed throughout the process, and made sure no question ever went unanswered. By far the best family attorneys I’ve worked with, and the only ones I’ll call if I ever need legal help again.

Response from the owner:Chris, thank you. Glad we were able to guide you through your process.

Joselyn Cortes

Andrew made the whole process smooth and quick! Kept me updated on any changes, and followed up with me constantly!

Made me feel at ease throughout the whole process and made sure I felt seen/ heard!

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Suzanne Stevens

David Handy is my attorney and he is excellent. He understands my cases and is well informed to defend my needs and the needs of my kids. He is supportive and compassionate. Telling me how things are and what to expect. He does very well with my high conflict cases (protective order and divorce). I highly recommend him and the Brown Family Law firm. Everyone I have talked to is helpful. Especially Conor Schetzel who is currently the paralegal on my cases.

Response from the owner:Suzanne, thank you and glad David has taken care of you.

Jaren Harmon

Nathaniel Garrabrandt and Brown Family Law is where I send people who are seeking Divorce. Highly professional and compassionate. Thank you!

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Meghann Christensen

I cannot say enough good about my experience with Brown Family Law. Ray Hingson and paralegal Carren did an excellent job with my case. I will definitely use this firm again for any legal issues.

Response from the owner:Meghann, so glad Ray and Carren took good care of you.

Monica Cooper

I have worked with Andrew Christensen many times in a variety of situations. I am very impressed with his friendly demeanor in a difficult situation. I would highly recommend him to you without any reservations.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Monica.

Michael Bringhurst

Highly recommend Brown Family Law. Life is hard, divorce is harder, and Andrew Christensen is your guy to help you through to the other side.

Response from the owner:Mike, thank you for the kind words and the referrals.

David Thimm

When you’re going through a tough time and need legal help, this firm isn’t just a one-person operation. It’s a team of attorneys who work together to support you every step of the way. So you’re not just getting a lawyer, you’re getting a legal team behind you.

Navigating the legal system was a steep learning curve for me, and my situation was fairly complex. What stood out about this law firm was the way multiple attorneys collaborated to address my case. It wasn’t just one person working in isolation, but a team supporting each other to find the best path forward. That kind of collective effort is a real strength, especially in hard out complex situations like mine.

There was one issue I felt should have had a different outcome with the court. When I brought it up, the team responded in a very professional and respectful manner, which I truly appreciated. It came to my understanding that the legal system sometimes works in a way that is distant than I thought. This was presented to me in a way that someone outside of the legal system could understand.

In my experience, this firm takes the time to not only assist you, but also help you understand why things are happening. That made a big difference for me, and it’s something that really sets them apart.

Response from the owner:David, thank you for our conversation and taking the time to leave this review.

Steve Baum

My experience with Jennifer and Brown Family Law was nothing short of amazing. From the very beginning of my initial consultation all the through until my case was settled, I was well taken care of and updated every step of the way. I felt like my team genuinely cared about the outcome of my case, which was refreshing. You get what you pay for, and Brown Family was worth every penny. To say I highly recommend this group is an understatement.

Response from the owner:Thank you very much, Steve. Glad Jennifer took good care of you.

Casey Bingham

Andrew Christensen was a great divorce lawyer. He is very experienced, professional, and was great to work with during this difficult process.

Response from the owner:Casey, thank you and so glad Andrew served you well.

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Sole Legal Child Custody v. Joint Legal Child Custody: What a Utah Therapist Should Know

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