Understanding the Different Types of Child Custody Arrangements
Divorce is no longer taboo in today’s world. An increasing number of people choose to lead separate lives even if they have children.
The question is: What happens to the child after the divorce? Who takes custody of the child? How does the court intervene in determining the custody of a minor child?
In this article, you’ll find the answers to all the questions mentioned above. It will play a vital role in giving you insights into the child custody options available and help you in choosing the best option for your child.
Child Custody Arrangement
Child custody arrangements imply the legal relationship between parents and their child or children. In other words, it refers to the intervention put in place by the court in choosing a legal guardian for the child.
There’s no doubt that the court process can be quite stressful for both parties involved (parents); however, it is always in the best interest of the child.
Before deciding who the child’s custodian will be:
- The court looks at the child’s well-being to make sure they are safe and happy.
- The child’s age matters because younger kids may need different care than older ones.
- Education is important, so the court checks to make sure the child can keep learning and doing well in school.
- The court also looks at the child’s growth to make sure they get the care they need as they develop.
- Emotional needs are checked to make sure the child feels loved, supported, and emotionally safe.
Types of Custody Arrangements
These are the common types of custody arrangements that separated parents usually operate with:
Sole Custody
Sole custody refers to the fact that one of the parties has the physical custody and the total legality of the child. Hence, this parent keeping the child will be in charge of all the decisions regarding the child’s life.
However, the non-custodial parent won’t have any form of authority to make decisions concerning the child but might be privy to only visitation rights.
Pro
- The child will be able to grow in a stable environment, knowing that he/she is well protected and cared for.
Con
- The other parent without custody of the child may feel a sense of loss, and it can eventually result in more conflict between both parents.
Shared Custody
The shared custody option is just as the name implies: both parties (parents) can share the legal aspect and the physical care of the child. With this arrangement, the child gets to spend equal time with both parents.
Pro
- Both parents are actively involved in caring for the child’s welfare.
Con
- Since cooperation and agreement will be required between the parents, the outcome might not be desirable as it would always result in conflicts.
Joint Legal Custody
Both parents have equal rights in making decisions about the child’s education, religion, and other aspects of his/her upbringing.
Joint Physical Custody
The child spends an equal amount of time with both parents, and both parties must agree on a visitation schedule that is perfect for the child.
Pro
- The child will be able to have stable relationships with both parents.
- Both parents have the right to make important decisions for the child.
Con
- The child may struggle with moving between two homes.
- Both parties must put in a lot of work, such as frequent communication and making compromises with the other parent, or else it will lead to disputes.
Split Custody
This arrangement simply means separating siblings between the parents, with one or more children living with one parent and the rest with the other.
Pro
- Each parent gets to spend more focused time with their child or children. It can make parenting a bit easier by handling fewer kids at once.
Con
- Siblings are separated, which can make them feel lonely or sad.
- They might miss each other, and it could cause problems if they feel like one is getting more attention than the other.
Nesting Custody
In this type of rare arrangement, the children involved will remain in their family home, while the parents must take turns living with the children. This ensures minimal disruption to the child’s routine.
Pro
- Kids stay in their own homes, which keeps things familiar and comfortable for them.
- They don’t have to move back and forth between their parents’ houses.
Con
- It’s hard for parents since they have to switch homes all the time.
- It can also be expensive to manage two separate places to live.
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