In these states, the grounds for the court to grant a legal separation are pretty much the same as those for granting a fault divorce. Both parents are legally obligated to support their minor children. A child support order is a judges legally binding order requiring payments from the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent, for the benefit of the children involved. It is calculated on the basis of a formula, which considers the income of both parents. Physical custody is the right of a parent to have his or her child live with them.
Legal custody is the right of the parent to make the decisions.
Sometimes a court will award joint custody where parents share decision making and sometimes sole custody where one parent has the primary decision making power. Physical custody can be divided equally or not. In fashioning a custody arrangement, the court uses the best interest of the child standard. Alimony is also known as maintenance or spousal support. Alimony is the amount of money ordered by the court to be paid by one spouse to the other spouse for maintenance and support after a divorce or during a period of separation.