For a person who is preparing for a draining emotional battle, it is best to keep track of how you are doing so you will know where are the areas that you should improve on and what are the things that you should continue doing. If you are able to develop a good outlook in life before the child custody case, everything will start falling into their proper places. Rules and guidelines involving temporary custody vary from state to state. Typically, a relative such as a grandparent or one of the parents seek temporary custody of a child. Temporary custody is granted once both parents have been informed and have been given the chance to respond to the petition. In addition, every state has specific requirements for temporary custody. These would include all the key aspects of the well-being of the child education, medical care, religious upbringing and others. Usually, both parents are awarded joint legal custody, unless one of them is found to be unfit or unable to make the right decisions. Legal custody is not the same as physical custody which concerns issues on where the child will reside. Doing so can be very challenging, so here are some tips to guide you through understanding the legal conditions that govern the custody of your child. Consult the Court of Jurisdiction To understand custody laws, you must consult first the court of jurisdiction. It is because custody laws vary from state to state. Moreover, it can last several months to over a year of being tied up in court if it shall be modified caused by objections from either parent. For a parent, it is wise to be fully satisfied to a temporary child custody agreement in the first place. The reason is that there is a good chance for it to become permanent. If you are one of those parents who are having a hard time to get started on filing for a child custody case because of mixed emotions and guilty feelings, then the best way would be to settle all your ill feelings first. Find it in yourself that this is something inevitable and is really beyond your control.