Is Joint Physical Custody Right for Me?

As you may have read in a previous article, joint custody is a type of child custody arrangement in which neither parent has sole physical custody of the child. That is, both parents, though divorced, continue to share time with the children. The children split their time between both parents, usually roughly 50-50, and spend time living at both homes. In essence, the child has two custodial parents.

Again, there are two types of custody: physical custody, and legal custody. Physical custody is the type which most of us think of when we hear the word “custody:” where the child lives. Legal custody is the legal right of a parent to share in the decisions about the child’s well-being: where the child goes to school, the type of medical treatment he or she receives, the religion in which the child is raised, etc. Unless there are certain specific circumstances, such as molestation or drug abuse, both parents receive legal custody, whereas physical custody is reserved for one parent.

But in some divorces today, parents find that, though they are getting divorced, they do not want to deprive their children the relationship with both parents that they deserve. In such situations, divorced spouses may choose to have joint physical custody. To do so, though, you may need to live near each other, as it can be detrimental to children to have to split their time between distant households.

Additionally, it may require a good relationship with your former spouse, as there needs to be a good level of trust and understanding. If you feel strongly that your child’s relationships with both of his or her parents are important, joint physical custody may be a good option.

Contact Us

If you’re interested in learning more about establishing joint physical custody, contact the West Palm Beach divorce lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. by calling 561-353-2800 today.