Going through a divorce? Have children that you are worried about? Do not worry. With help, divorcing parents in Massachusetts can create parenting plans that truly fit the needs of their families.
When it comes to child custody and making it work, it is not always easy. Parents will not always agree on what is the best thing. That is why courts have, in the past, focused on giving sole custody to one parent and granting visitation time to the other. More parents, though, have been wanting joint custody over the years, so courts are now leaning to this type of arrangement — as studies have shown equal time with parents to be beneficial to children. Now the issue is figuring out the best way to make a joint custody arrangement work.
The traditional joint custody setup involves each parent having their own residence and children moving back and forth between them. Parenting plans would include the specifics for how such an arrangement would work — such as who get the kids when, who is responsible for transportation and a number of other important details. More modern methods of joint custody living arrangements involve keeping the children in one residence and having parents either continue living under that same roof at the same time or splitting their time in the family home. Both of these options can be great for children but rough on the adults — but parenting plans can establish rules to make them work.
At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you and your children. You and your soon-to-be-ex have to decide what kind of custody and living arrangement will work for everyone. There is more than one right way to do it. A Massachusetts family law attorney can help divorcing parents as they figure this out and create parenting plans that fit the bill.
