When it comes to parenting after a divorce, figuring out how to share custody is one of the biggest issues that parents need to navigate. Making sure that the children are able to maintain healthy relationships with both parents is key to ensuring that children don’t suffer negative emotional consequences.
What does the alternate-week custody arrangement entail?
There may be an agreement in place to split custody 50-50, but what that looks like varies from family to family. The most common 50-50 arrangement involves alternating weeks with each parent. In this setup, the children spend one week with one parent and the next with the other. This arrangement may work for some families, but for others, it creates situations where the children end up missing the off-week parent to the point that it affects their health and relationships.
What are some alternatives to the week-on, week-off arrangement?
Parents shouldn’t feel locked into the week-on, week-off arrangement if it doesn’t work for their family. There are alternatives to this type of schedule that still result in a 50-50 arrangement.
One option is alternating every two days in a child custody arrangement where the child switches parents every two days; this is ideal for parents who live close to each other. A 3-4-4-3 schedule is one where the child spends three days with the first parent before spending four days with the other and then switching. These are some examples of setups that help keep the children’s mental health in mind. The ultimate goal is to make sure the kids are happy and there’s as little disruption as possible to everyone’s lives.
What can parents with difficult custody arrangements do?
Parents who are trying to figure out custody arrangements may benefit by consulting attorneys who have experience working with parents and courts to figure out arrangements that work for the whole family. Attorneys may suggest options people have never even heard of or considered, possibly helping everyone involved in the long run.
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