The role of the primary caretaker in child custody decisions

If North Carolina parents who are going through a divorce cannot reach an agreement about child custody outside of court, a family court judge must rule on the matter. When a judge makes a ruling about primary physical custody, the judge typically favors the parent that is the child's primary caretaker. To determine who has served as the primary caretaker, a judge will look at a number of different factors. In family law, the primary caretaker is the parent who has taken care of a child's most basic needs. Feeding, bathing, grooming and clothing of a child are all considered responsibilities of a primary caretaker. A primary caretaker may also make healthcare arrangements for the child, schedule extracurricular activities, attend conferences at the child's school and teach the child reading and writing skills.