Divorcing parents who want to share the right to raise their children can make joint custody schedules where the child takes turns to live with each of them.
There’s a lot involved when making a custody schedule. Parents may need to consider the following as they plan out when they see their children:
How often can you have your children?
Parents may have specific days when it is easier or harder to have their children stay with them. They need to discuss what works for them and the child.
What if your work/school schedule changes?
Sometimes parents can’t rely on their work or school hours to stay the same. If a work or school schedule changes and conflicts with a parent’s responsibility for the care of their children, then it can put a lot of pressure on parents. Parents may need to discuss what would happen if their work or school schedule conflicts with their custody schedule.
Do your children have special needs?
Many children have special needs that require consistent assistance from parents. If a child needs constant monitoring then one parent may have more hours in order to do this than the other.
Will you share or split holidays?
One question that often comes up when discussing parental rights is how holidays are spent with children. Some parents will rotate their holidays and others will split a holiday so one parent has their children in the day and the other at night.
It’s important that joint custody schedules are consistent, balanced and flexible when necessary. When parents divorce, learning about their legal options can help parents make the best decision for themselves and their children.