Shared Custody of Children

You can ask our online lawyers for advice on shared custody using the question box on the front of our website or the following free legal advice guide may answer your questions.

If a couple decide to divorce, it can be a hugely unsettling time for the children. Organising custody can be a difficult and emotional time for the couple and confusing for children. Therefore, the process should be dealt with as efficiently as possible to prevent any unnecessary upset and disruption to the children’s life.

shared custody

This process can become even more challenging if a couple are no longer on speaking terms and there are many disagreements and areas of dispute. In these situations, it is even more important to obtain legal guidance to ensure that the rights of the child are properly respected.

Shared custody in situations where the separation is amicable, is much more straightforward. A child will always benefit in an environment that is calm and supportive than one that is confusing and full of anger.

Shared custody is always the preferred option because it is in the best interests of the child. When this arrangement is made, a child will live between two houses, with parents sharing custody.

The time that the child spends with each parent is not necessarily equal, they may for example spend the week with one parent and weekends with the other.

When sharing custody, a number of factors will need to be taken into consideration such as the working patterns of each parent, their location (if a parent lives some distance away this can make custody more challenging) as well as the needs of the child and whether they have any medical conditions or need to be present for medical or other appointments in the local area.

Shared Custody Explained

As already established, shared custody is where the parents share parenting and residency of the child or children. The child will spend certain periods of time with both parents, giving them greater stability and allowing them to benefit from the relationship with both parents.

Regular contact with each parent is always beneficial. This means that the child will have two homes.

When deciding how to allocate time for each parent, the time spent at each property will be tailored to the needs of the child. It must be in their best interests. In some situations, the child will spend half of their time with one parent and half of their time at the other.

They may for example spend Monday to Wednesday with one parent and then Thursday to Sunday with the other. In another situation where one parent lives a distance away from the other, custody may be split so that they spend the majority of the week with one parent and then a couple of days with the other.

When organising shared custody, it is crucial that both parents are suitable to share custody and fulfil their parental responsibilities. Both parents must have suitable accommodation and resources to properly care for the child or children.

Benefits 

There are many benefits associated with shared custody. Children will benefit the most because it gives them greater consistency in terms of when they will see their parents and they won’t have to worry about not seeing the other parent for long periods of time.

If shared custody is properly organised, it can give children a sense of routine which can offer greater reassurance to the child. Shared custody also provides peace of mind to parents as they have specific, planned times with their child. This also relieves the stress of single parenting which can be sometimes difficult to manage around work and other commitments.

Most importantly, shared custody is important because it gives children greater stability, even though their parents are no longer together. It creates a new structure for the child that they will get used to in time. Parents are also less likely to miss key events in the child’s life and schooling.

Disadvantages of Shared Custody

While there are several benefits associated with shared custody, there are also some drawbacks. Sometimes there are obstacles to be overcome in the shared custody process. If the arrangements are not properly organised, it can lead to disruption and confusion for everyone.

Sometimes a parents situation may change which can cause disruption to the routine. This can include things such  as starting a new job, moving to a new area or finding a new partner.

of these things can cause particular difficulties in the shared custody process and some consideration should be given to this during divorce proceedings so that all eventualities are covered.

If you are going through a divorce and you need information or advice on shared custody, it is always recommended that you seek legal advice from a solicitor experienced in family law who can guide you through the process and give you a list of issues to be discussed.

Share this :    

Previous Posts

spousal maintenance
marriage annulment
gillick competency
fathers rights
Causing Death
complaint against police

Related Services

Related articles

spousal maintenance
Spousal Maintenance You can ask our online solicitors for advice on spousal maintenance using the question box on the front of our website or the following free legal advice guide may answer your questions. Divorce brings with it a number of obligations, even after a couple separate and the divorce is finalised. One of these includes...
marriage annulment
Marriage Annulments You can ask our online solicitors for advice on marriage annulments using the question box on the front of our website or the following free legal advice guide may answer your questions. A marriage can break down for a number of different reasons. When it does and a reconciliation is not possible, a couple...
gillick competency
Gillick Competence You can ask our online solicitors for advice on gillick competence using the question box on the front of our website or the following free legal advice guide may answer your questions. It is widely recognised in school, family life and in the community that children have the right to be involved in decisions that...