Get child custody, support and parenting time orders
If you're both the child's legal parents, you can agree on or ask a judge to decide about child custody, parenting time, and child support. Once you have an agreement or a judge makes a decision, you can submit final papers to the court to finish your case.
You can agree or ask judge to decide
If you need or want a court order for child custody, support or parenting time, you and the other parent can come to an agreement or you can ask a judge to decide.
1. Find out about the law to set expectations
Typically, it helps to find out more about the law around child custody, parenting time, and child support. Th
2. Try to reach an agreement
Working out an agreement with your child's other parent does not necessarily mean you have to sit down together. Some people work out agreements over the phone or email, or get help from someone else, like a mediator. If you reach an agreement, you'll write down that agreement and submit it to the court for a judge to sign.
3. Ask a judge to decide
If you and the other parent can't reach an agreement, you can ask a judge to decide. If you disagree about child custody or parenting time, before a judg emakes a decision, you will meet with a mediator, a trained mental health professional help parents come up with a parenting plan agreement.
At a glance