A parents separation or divorce may end their relationship, but parents must be encouraged to work together to ensure that both remain a part of their children’s lives.

Historically, courts favored mothers having “custody” and fathers having “visitation”. Courts began to recognize how damaging these labels are (and possibly unconstitutional) and lawmakers began rewriting custody laws to reflect the concept of time-sharing. States then began moving in the direction of shared parenting.

Although courts are becoming more receptive to shared parenting, not every court or Judge is on board. Judges must make custody decisions based on a “best interest of the child” standard. This phrase sounds comforting, but, since judges are not required to explain their decisions, many argue the standard is nebulous. Many Judges retain the belief that it’s preferable for children to have one primary residence. Although there is a plethora of research showing this is not the case, many remain unaware or unwilling to acknowledge it.
Weiterlesen