Child custody arrangements are an important factor in any divorce case. When you have a child with another person, there’s usually a good chance that you and your ex-spouse will share custody (unless there are significant reasons to disallow the other parent in your child’s life).
For most people, the thing that will work best is called joint custody. Courts like joint custody, because both parents maintain a relationship with their child. In the majority of situations, both parents are good parents, so they should have joint custody to remain as prominent in their children’s lives as possible.
What is joint custody?
In a joint custody situation, both parents have physical custody of the child at different times. For example, you might have your child in your home one week and then send your child to the other parent’s home the next.
There is also the possibility of joint legal custody. With joint legal custody, both parents have the right to make decisions about the child’s life. This includes decisions on religion, schooling, medical care and more.
Is joint custody best for a child?
In most cases, joint custody is of great benefit to children. Like in a married family, both parents have some control over what their child can or cannot do. Both parents also see their child regularly, which is least disruptive to the child’s current routine.
Joint custody is something to consider if you and your ex-spouse both want to be in your child’s life. Work together to plan on how to raise your child, so you can do so even if you’re not married.
