Parents in West Virginia are likely most concerned with helping their children adjust to a new way of life after a separation or divorce. Finding the best custody arrangement can feel overwhelming, especially when both parents want as much time as possible with their kids. Joint custody, where parents share custody can be the best choice in many situations as it allows kids to maintain relationships with both parents. But joint custody arrangements can vary greatly, and the time spent with each parent is not necessarily equal.
Understanding how joint custody works
A parenting plan should focus on the best interests of the children. This usually requires compromise from both parties, especially in cases of joint custody. When parents agree to joint custody, or the court orders it, the responsibilities for caring for the children are divided between both parents. It’s not necessarily true that each parent will get equal time, but negotiations for vacations, school breaks and holidays are common.
Physical custody refers to where the children reside while legal custody refers to making decisions for the children. Parents can have joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or both. When parents have joint custody and there is a disagreement or dispute about a decision or about the parenting plan, the court will intervene as needed to provide guidance and settle issues as they arise.
Preparing for life after divorce when children are involved
Kids are resilient and they can thrive after divorce if parents act selflessly and make decisions based on what’s best for the children. There is no one size fits all parenting plan, but joint custody does work well in many situations. West Virginia parents who are dealing with child custody issues can benefit from speaking with a family law attorney to better understand their options and rights.
