When you divorce, and you have children, the court can order you to have sole or shared custody of the children. Unless one parent is irresponsible or abusive, the court prefers shared custody. Here the child splits the time that he/she spends with both of the parents. To have an impact in your child’s life, you should work with your child custody attorney and get the shared custody. Just like any other thing, this type of custody has its pros and cons.

Pros of shared child custody

One of the advantages of this type of arrangement is that it helps the children to maintain regular contact with both parents. According to psychologists, this is highly beneficial to the proper development of the children. Since the children feel loved and wanted by both parents, they tend to develop normally despite the divorce.

Studies show that couples that opt for shared custody have reduced chances of re-litigation (going back to court). According to the studies, 50% of the couples that opt for sole custody often go back to court fighting for money and more involvement in the lives of their children. By opting for shared custody, you save plenty of money that you would have spent hiring a divorce lawyer.

Studies also show that parents in shared custody arrangements tend to honor their child support payments. This is attributed to the fact that both of the parents are involved with their children; thus they work hard at ensuring that they give their children the best.

Disadvantages of shared child custody

While this type of arrangement has its parks, it also has its fair share of negatives. One of the flaws is that it can be confusing to children. Since the children spend half of their time with each of the parents, they can sometimes get confused especially when both of the parents live distances apart. This confusion can affect their performance in school, and in some cases affect the overall development. If the parents still have unresolved issues, this arrangement can sometimes result in more conflict which is harmful to the children.

Conclusion

Shared child custody has its pros and cons. If you feel that the arrangement is right for all of you (both parents and children), you should work with your child support lawyer and go for it. In some cases, you are discouraged from settling with this type of custody. This is when you aren’t in good terms with your partner. You are also discouraged from this kind of child custody if both of you live states apart and the child will have challenges adapting to frequent changes.