Joint Custody In Ogden, Utah
KAUFMAN | NICHOLS | KAUFMAN
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
A Practical Plan That Puts Your Children First
When parents separate or divorce, the most important question is how to protect a child’s day-to-day life. Joint custody in Ogden, Utah gives children meaningful time and strong relationships with both parents while providing a predictable routine. Utah courts focus on the best interests of the child, and they encourage cooperative parenting when it is safe and workable.
At Kaufman, Nichols & Kaufman, our family law attorneys help parents design joint custody plans that reflect real schedules, real budgets, and real needs. We explain your options, prepare accurate documents, and guide you through every step, from initial filings to final orders and later adjustments if life changes.
What Joint Custody Means In Utah
Utah recognizes legal custody and physical custody. A joint arrangement can apply to either or both.
- Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share decision-making about major issues such as education, medical care, counseling, religious participation, and significant extracurriculars.
- Joint Physical Custody: A child spends at least 111 overnights per year in each parent’s home. Parenting time is scheduled in a way that meets the child’s needs and fits each family’s logistics.
Joint legal custody does not require a 50–50 split of time. Likewise, joint physical custody does not require parents to agree on everything. It requires a workable plan, consistent communication, and a focus on the child’s routine.
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Joint Custody Vs. Sole Custody
- Sole Legal Custody: One parent makes major decisions. Courts consider this when there are safety concerns, high conflict, or evidence that joint decision-making would harm the child.
- Sole Physical Custody: A child spends 225 or more overnights with one parent. The other parent has scheduled parenting time unless the court finds it would be unsafe.
- Joint Legal And Sole Physical: A common hybrid where parents share major decisions, but the child lives primarily with one parent due to distance, school needs, or work schedules.
Our job is to help you determine which model fits your child’s age, school, medical needs, extracurriculars, and your family’s geography.
How Courts Decide Joint Custody
Utah’s standard is the best interests of the child. Judges weigh many factors, including:
- Each parent’s ability and willingness to meet daily needs and keep the child safe
- The history and quality of each parent–child relationship
- The benefit of keeping siblings together
- Each parent’s ability to encourage frequent, continuing contact with the other parent
- The distance between homes and the practicality of exchanges
- Work schedules, travel, and child care arrangements
- Any history of domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, or neglect
- The child’s wishes, with greater weight at age 14 and older
- Extended family support and community ties
No single factor controls the outcome. The court looks for a plan that supports stability, healthy development, and strong bonds with both parents.
Building A Strong Parenting Plan
Every joint custody order in Utah must include a Parenting Plan. A clear plan reduces conflict and gives your child a reliable routine.
A complete plan addresses:
- Residential Schedule: Week-to-week structure, exchanges, and holiday rotations
- Decision-Making: How parents consult on major issues and who has tie-break authority if needed
- Communication: Methods, response times, and tools such as parenting apps
- Transportation: Pick-up and drop-off details, school transitions, and travel protocols
- Expenses: How to share uninsured medical costs, child care, activities, and school-related expenses
- Conflicts And Changes: How to handle schedule swaps, make-up time, and dispute resolution
We draft plans in plain language with realistic timelines, so everyone understands what to do and when to do it.
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Parenting Time Schedules That Work
A schedule should match your child’s age and needs. Common joint physical custody patterns include:
- 2-2-3 or 3-4-4-3: Frequent exchanges for younger children who benefit from shorter gaps between parents
- Week-On / Week-Off: Simple for older children when parents live close to school and activities
- 5-2 / 2-5: One parent holds consistent weekdays, the other holds consistent weekends
- School-Year / Summer Split: Adjusted for long-distance parenting or jobs with seasonal demands
We help you choose a pattern that limits travel fatigue, protects school routines, and keeps both homes involved in the child’s life.
Child Support With Joint Custody
Joint custody and child support are related but not identical. Utah calculates support using:
- Each parent’s gross monthly income
- The number of overnights with each parent
- The number of children covered by the order
Even with equal time, support may be owed if incomes are different or if one parent covers more direct costs. The order also addresses medical insurance, uninsured medical expenses, and work-related child care. We prepare accurate worksheets so your support order matches your actual circumstances.
When Joint Custody May Not Be Appropriate
The court will not impose joint custody where it would be unsafe or unworkable, including cases with:
- Ongoing domestic violence, abuse, or coercive control
- Serious, untreated substance abuse or mental health concerns that impair parenting
- Refusal to communicate or repeated interference with the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Excessive distance between homes that would disrupt school or daily life
In these situations, the court may order sole legal, sole physical, or a protective structure with supervised time. Your safety and your child’s well-being come first.
Why Work With Kaufman, Nichols & Kaufman
Parents choose KNK for joint custody in Ogden because we combine deep family law experience with practical, child-centered planning. You will get:
- Clear explanations of Utah law and realistic outcomes
- A parenting plan tailored to your child’s age, school, and activities
- Accurate child support calculations and documentation
- Steady advocacy in negotiation, mediation, or court
- Ongoing guidance for modifications or enforcement
Our goal is simple: a parenting plan that works in real life and a process that protects your child’s well-being.
Practical Tips For Successful Co-Parenting
- Use A Shared Calendar: Keep school events, exchanges, and activities in one place
- Confirm In Writing: Summarize agreements by text or app to avoid memory disputes
- Focus On The Child: Keep adult issues separate from parenting time and exchanges
- Plan For Transitions: Pack school items and medications in the same bag each week
- Review Annually: Adjust the plan as the child grows and schedules change
Small habits reduce friction and help your child feel secure in both homes.
Contact An Ogden Joint Custody Lawyer
If you are exploring joint custody in Ogden, Utah, we are here to help. We will explain your options, outline a strategy, and draft a plan that supports your child today and as they grow.
Call 801-752-0499 or request a confidential consultation with Kaufman, Nichols & Kaufman.
KAUFMAN | NICHOLS | KAUFMAN
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
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Common Questions About Joint Custody
What Is The Difference Between Joint Legal And Joint Physical Custody?
Joint legal custody means parents share major decision-making authority. Joint physical custody means the child spends at least 111 overnights with each parent per year. You can have joint legal without joint physical, and vice versa, depending on what is best for the child.
Does Joint Custody Always Mean A 50–50 Schedule?
No. Joint physical custody only requires 111 overnights with each parent. Many families use 60–40 or other patterns that better fit school, work, and travel while still keeping strong time with both parents.
How Does Joint Custody Affect Child Support?
Support is based on both parents’ incomes and the number of overnights. Even with equal time, support may be owed if one parent earns more or covers more direct costs. Your order will also address health insurance and uninsured medical expenses.
Can We Choose Joint Legal Custody If We Disagree Often?
Maybe. The court looks at your ability to communicate and make decisions together. If conflict is high, the court may assign specific decision areas to each parent or grant tie-break authority to one parent. In serious conflict or safety cases, the court may order sole legal custody.
Can A Joint Custody Order Be Changed Later?
Yes. If there is a substantial change in circumstances and a modification serves the child’s best interests, the court can adjust legal or physical custody and parenting time. Examples include relocation, persistent interference, new safety concerns, or major schedule changes.