Remember, you do not pay a fee for seeing your child. But, if you have caused harm to your child or to your ex-spouse, chances are you will lose your custody rights permanently. This may be reversed if the courts rule otherwise. Concerned that the mother s cigarette smoking might affect your child s health? Various Child Custody Options: Guide for Divorcing Parents What are the different child custody options that are available to divorcing or separating parents? The types of custody that parents can choose from depend on the state where they live and the specific situation of their child. Generally, there are five types of custody: physical custody, legal custody, sole custody, joint custody, and bird's nest custody. Thus, it pays to understand the process of filing for temporary custody in your state. Why is temporary custody necessary in some cases? Because finalizing a divorce can take months or even years, it is essential to have rules in place regarding the upbringing of the child. Temporary custody, which indicates when each parent can take care of the child, prevents one of the parents from running off with the child or denying the other parent access to the child. If it is proven, mothers has the right to ask for child support, medical and health insurance of the child, a share in the medical expenses during birth, and pay a portion of the mother s legal expenses. If the father fails in his obligations, the mother has the right to ask the court to terminate custody rights of the father. Once you were able to identify all of these, it will be easier for you to set goals for yourself that are within your reach and your capabilities. Knowing one's self will also enable you to take note of your weaknesses and find ways on how to overcome, manage, and deal with them. The same works for your strengths because you might even find a way on how to improve them. Once you get hold of these forms, you can ask the court personnel to assist you in filing them. Next, you need to get in touch with a lawyer whose expertise is on Family Law so you will have an idea about the entire process and you can also get basic information on costs as well as possible results. You might also want to ask how the lawyer plans to handle the case.