Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Custody is one of the most contested parts of a divorce or separation. Each parent is often with the mindset to win this custody battle. A family court judge will decide any custody arrangement according to a child’s best interests rather than the parent’s wishes.
The child custody patterns in practice in California are:
- Joint custody
- Sole custody
- Legal custody
- Physical custody
The judge determines who will be the primary caregiver, which parent will care less frequently, or the most suitable custody arrangement in which both parents share equal custody. A judge will consider what custody arrangement is best for a child.
The Most Common Child Custody arrangement |Joint Physical Custody
The modern family courts prefer joint physical custody of children. The child should spend time with each parent and maintain a healthy and positive relationship. Joint physical custody or shared custody is a child custody arrangement after a divorce or separation. It’s a parenting style in which both parents share the responsibility of raising their children with equal or around equal parenting time. The parents share the physical and decision-making responsibilities for their children. In a joint physical custody arrangement, parents mutually design a schedule keeping in view the children’s needs, housing arrangements, and job requirements.
Advantages of Joint Physical Custody
It is always best for both parents to have custody of the children after divorce or separation. Joint physical custody is a preferred option for cooperative parents. The benefits of joint physical custody are:
1. Access to both parents
Having access to only one parent has an adverse psychological impact on children. They become withdrawn, depressed, and anxious. They tend to express their anger and may become problem-creating children. For children’s mental health interaction and healthy relationship with each of the parents is requisite.
2. Less chance of feeling rejected
A divorce or separation between parents is painful for children. They might develop a feeling of rejection which will be a significant factor in shattering their personality. In joint physical custody, children are less likely to feel rejected by one of their parents. Living and interacting with both parents prevent them from low self-esteem, rejection, and feeling of loss.
3. Parental cooperation benefits children
Children perceive things differently than adults. They often blame themselves for the conflict between parents if matters are unsettled or a legal battle starts between parents. Each parent must place their conflicts and issues aside for the better interest of their children. Cooperative parents accomplish it responsibly and save their children from adverse psychological effects.
4. Building relationships with each parent
Both parents are necessary for a healthy and normal brought up of children. Children need the love, affection, and care of both. Joint physical custody gives children access to both parents, allowing the children to develop and maintain a healthy relationship with both. This parenting plan helps the children to enjoy their childhood to some extent.
A Joint Physical Custody Schedule
To prioritize the needs of the children is the foremost requirement for developing a joint physical custody schedule. It may be a complicated task for each parent as both have different liabilities in their life. The goal of the parenting plan is to share custody on an equal basis. The California family court gives custody to each parent for 50% of the week, month, or year. The court and the cooperative parents finally decide custody schedule with the mutual understanding of each parent. The joint physical custody schedules are:
- The full week-custody schedule
- Mid-week transfer schedules
- Summer custody schedules
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.