Physical Custody Options in Pennsylvania

By Jones & Associates Law P.C.

Under Pennsylvania law, physical custody refers to the right of a parent to have physical possession and control of their child. Often, parents understand physical custody to refer to the right to have a child live in the parent’s home with them. However, there are different types of physical custody Media parents can receive, and it is important that they understand the specific distinctions that make them unique.

Shared Physical Custody

Shared physical custody is the term used when more than one person has physical custody rights to a child. It is not unusual for Pennsylvania courts to permit both of a child’s parents to have physical custody rights. Just how much physical custody each parent has, however, will be determined by the facts of the specific child custody case.

Primary and Partial Physical Custody

A parent who has primary physical custody has the right to have possession and control of their child for the majority of the time, whereas a parent with partial physical custody has the rights of possession and control of their child for less than a majority of the time. Primary and partial physical custody arrangements give parents unequal custodial time with their kids.

Sole and Supervised Physical Custody

As it sounds, sole physical custody gives one parent the possession and control of their child. In some circumstances, when it is in the best interests of the child, a parent may be granted supervised physical custody. This means that custody time for that parent must be under the supervision of an approved third party.

There is a range of possible custodial arrangements Pennsylvania parents can receive when they divorce. Parents can advocate for their kids and fight for their custodial rights. A dedicated family law attorney can be a source of support and guidance for a parent stuck with child custody questions.