When going into divorce with a family to consider, you will likely spend time worrying about what sort of custody situation to engage with.
Many people choose to opt for joint custody due to its touted benefits. But what exactly are these benefits, and how may they impact your family?
Benefits to your child
Psychology Today discusses the impact of joint custody on everyone involved. Joint custody is the form of custody where both parents have equal say in all legal matters regarding the children. There are situations where you may share physical custody too, but this is less common due to the fact that you will likely not live with or even near your co-parent.
However, joint custody can have numerous benefits for all parties involved. For your children, joint custody is said to help with the formation of healthy coping mechanisms and may contribute to better relationship skills later in life.
Benefits for the parents
For you and your co-parent, it allows both of you to remain present and active in your child’s life. This is a great way for you to build a healthy and sustainable relationship with your child, while also providing them with the security and support of a two-parent household.
Of course, there are situations where joint custody is not the best option. If you are dealing with an abusive ex-spouse, for example, it will likely not work. It may not work if your co-parent also spends a lot of time away from home, such as those in active service duty.
But if you think joint custody might work out, consider giving it a try.