Note: Child support agencies can not handle custody matters.
At the same time the court makes the initial child support order, the court will determine the child’s legal and physical custody arrangements. Only the court may create, change, or enforce custody and placement orders. There are a variety of legal and physical custody arrangements that the court may order to accommodate family needs.
In giving a person legal custody of a child, the court is giving that person the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding the child’s medical care, schooling, and religion. In sole legal custody arrangements, one parent is given this responsibility. In joint legal custody arrangements, the court defines how the parents will share this responsibility.