Child custody is a tough issue for parents to resolve. Sometimes if they can remove their personal anger and emotions from the mix a decision an agreeable decision can be made by both parents. Deciding what is in the "best interest" of the child or children before your divorce is without a doubt the best route to take unless there is abuse, neglect or addiction present with one or both spouses.
Often times one parent has been the primary caregiver of the children during the marriage and the child or children depend solely upon that parent for comforting and caring for them. Taking the children away from this person is a devastating experience for a child and totally unnecessary if both parents work out a plan together to make decisions that are in the "best interest" of the children.
By working out a child custody plan in advance, the family law judge realizes that both parents are looking out for their children. Personal issues have been laid aside and the parents have come to a reasonable agreement - this pleases the judge and he or she usually takes this plan into consideration.
The most difficult part of a divorce for the judge is the child custody issue. If the divorce is contentious and both parties are using the children as pawns, the judge must follow the family laws and do what is best for the children.
If there were a perfect picture for the child custody issue, it would be when both parents want to be caregivers and make the important decisions on health, schooling, education, extra curricular activities etc. Joint custody or shared custody may be good options and this depends upon the parents being able to agree what is best for their child or children.
Joint custody entails the tasks and responsibilities each parent is capable of giving to their children. This usually means that one parent may have more physical time with the children, but the children still get to interact with both parents on a regular basis.
Shared custody in a nutshell is just that - both parents share an equal amount of time with the children. Usually with good parents this type of custody is less disruptive for the children.
But the good thing is this - if parents can decide upon a feasible parenting plan for the children, the family law judge will definitely go along with the parent's decision. The divorce judge is the "liaison" for the children and he or she places the children at the top of their priorities. Don't mess with the judge when it comes to the "best interest" of the children!
Divorce is a devastating and fracturing experience to children and often times it scars them for the rest of their lives. Each parent is to be commended if he or she consider the children first when contemplating or going through divorce. This isn't a dollar and cents issue - do what is best for the children. Time is the most precious gift that one can give to their children.
Children need your presence or time, not lavish gifts.
As Always,
Little Tboca
No comments:
Post a Comment