Creating an effective
joint custody arrangement is a very beneficial part of parenting after a divorce. While
there may be families that are unable for one reason or another to work
together in a custody agreement, there are also many parents who equally
desire to be involved in the lives of their children and therefore it
is essential to create a joint custody schedule that works. Here are a
few different approaches that have proven to work well for various families
when dealing with shared custody. Fear not, you will be able to find a
good routine in due time, it just may take a while to get to the point.
A common method for parents is to have one week with the kids and then
one week off. Usually this method is common for parents who still live
in the same area, and the children will have no problem making it to school
or their extracurricular activities. Not only is this an effective way
for parents to spend a longer chunk of time with the kids but it also
helps them see their kids in a more normal environment because within
a week time they are likely to feel more at home than if they rotated
every few days. These time frames won’t count for the holidays,
those will likely be established during the divorce settlement, and fit
into the different holiday times and vacation time that the children will
be at one parents home.
Next would be called a 3 to 4 day split, and every week it will rotate
so that out of every 2 weeks, each parent will be with the kids for 7
days exactly. This is a nice method for parents who want to see the kids
more frequently, though it does still free up the parents to have a few
nights off every couple days. Also, this gives each parent a chance to
have a weekend day with the kids, whether it is Saturday or Sunday, you
two would be able to decide. Weekends are a nice way to have family time
that isn’t disturbed by work or school and everything in between.
Even more frequently would be the 2-2-3 days split. And this too would
give parents a chance for some alone time, and every other weekend could
be split, and so one. It is also nice for parents who alternate weekends
with the kids, so that they also have the freedom to recover alone from
the divorce as well as get back out into the dating world eventually.
Lastly, there is an option for actually splitting days so that each parent
is able to see their kids on a daily basis. Split custody would look like
how the parents worked together when they were married almost. One parent
would take the kids to school and maybe pick them up and hang it them,
while the other one takes them home for dinner and they sleep at that
parents house. Usually with day split home, one parent will have the kids
live there while the other parent is just very involved in their daily
happenings.
Going through a divorce can involve a lot of change, particularly when
dealing with establishing the custody of your children. They are considered
to be some of the most specified people in a parent’s life, and
choosing a manageable child custody arrangement is going to help the parents
stay involved in the lives of their kids. If you or someone you know is
considering filing for a divorce,
contact Hutchinson Law today for a trusted
Jacksonville divorce attorney who can walk you through the process, and answer any legal questions you
may have.