When a marriage is over, each member of the family will experience impacts from this decision. As a parent, you naturally want to do everything possible to minimize the potentially negative effects of this choice on your children, and one way you can do that is by being thoughtful with your custody and visitation choices. For this reason, many Alabama families opt for a joint custody arrangement.
Joint custody is a specific type of custody arrangement that allows the children to have relatively equitable time with each parent. Allowing them to maintain strong relationships with both parents has proven to be best for their mental and emotional well-being. Before you make a decision that could impact your family in the future, you will benefit from knowing about all of the custody options available to you.
Potential benefits for you and your kids
Sharing joint custody with a former spouse is not always easy. However, there are many benefits to setting aside your own personal and temporary feelings about the other parent and focusing on making this type of arrangement work. Some of the benefits of joint custody for you and for your children include:
- You do not have to bear the burden of disciplining and making important decisions for your kids alone.
- By sharing parenting time with the other parent, it will allow you time to yourself, especially if you decide to start dating.
- A joint custody arrangement will force you and the other parent to provide stability through a set schedule.
- As parents share parenting time, it will allow them to share the day-to-day costs of raising a child.
After adjusting to a joint custody schedule, you may find that this specific custody arrangement is beneficial for the entire family. It provides your children with the opportunity to have strong relationships with both parents, and it also allows you to have time to yourself to heal, grow and adjust to your post-divorce circumstances.
Looking to the future
When considering your custody options, you will benefit from focusing on the future. It is easy to allow your temporary feelings to dictate the choices you make during a divorce, but this can lead to terms that may not be beneficial or sustainable for you and your family. It may be helpful to seek another opinion about how joint custody could benefit your specific situation.
