These forms of custody can be in different combinations for example, a parent could have sole legal custody and joint physical custody or sole physical and joint legal custody. Generally, if the parents cannot agree on significant issues regarding the children's upbringing the court will not order joint legal custody. Arrangements regarding how you and your spouse divide the time with your children usually must be spelled out in detail in the court order. Aspects of time sharing must be specified whether one parent is the sole custodian or a joint physical custody arrangement is used. The advantages and disadvantages of varous time sharing plans depend on the ages of your children, your relationship with your spouse, the distance between the homes and many other factors.
Child support is money paid by one parent to the other for support of the minor children.
Even if a parent has joint custody, one parent will likely pay some child support. The amount of child support received or paid is another important concern. Child support can be difficult as there is usually not enough money available to allow both spouses to maintain the same standard of living had during the marriage. Guidelines mandated by the Missouri Supreme Court set the amount of child support. These guidelines have formulas which consider the gross incomes of both parents, child care expenses, health insurance costs, educational expenses and extracurricular costs and payments for children from other marriages.