When you go through a divorce, you understand how certain things about your life and the lives of your children are going to change. You may have to move, or you may need to make adjustments in your lifestyle. You could also have to adjust your expectations for how often you will see your children. One of your main concerns may involve how often you will see your children or how you and the other parent will handle custody.
Shared custody is a common approach for many families. With this type of custody arrangement, the parents will work together to split time with the kids and provide them with as much continuity of lifestyle as possible. While offering many benefits, shared custody may not be possible or effective for every New Jersey family.
The pros and cons with this type of custody plan
It is important to make custody decisions based on what will be best for the individual family. Your kids have unique needs, and you will also have to consider factors such as your work schedule, health needs of your kids and more. Consider the following benefits of shared parenting:
- It can allow your kids to maintain strong relationships with both parents, which is beneficial for their mental health.
- Shared parenting may result in less contention and complication between the parents.
- A shared parenting plan may be more sustainable long-term, leading to a lower chance of a parent experiencing a feeling of burnout.
- Children may feel less stress and emotional duress when the parents decide to share custody.
While it is often a beneficial and practical custody strategy, shared parenting is not for everyone. It may not work well if you and the other parent are not able to cooperate and function respectfully within the confines of a shared custody and visitation plan.
Is it right for you?
If you are unsure if shared parenting is the right approach to your custody and visitation strategy, you may benefit from seeking guidance regarding the options available to you. An assessment of your case may provide you with insight on how to pursue or create a custody plan that will be beneficial and sustainable for your kids. The ultimate goal of any custody plan is to protect the best interests of the kids above all else.