In order to facilitate the best interests of children, many courts will grant parents joint custody. Joint custody allows parents to share physical and legal custody rights of their children after divorce. This often means that co-parents will likely need to communicate often about important matters, such as who has parenting time with their children each week, how their children should be raised and what obligations each parent is meant to honor.
However, joint custody may not be the best option for all parents. If co-parenting is not working, parents have several other options, including parallel parenting and – in extreme situations – sole custody.
How does parallel parenting work?
Parallel parenting is an arrangement that is similar to co-parenting. However, parents who do not communicate well and often fight about matters can limit how often they communicate altogether. Parents in a parallel parenting arrangement can limit how often they communicate and through what methods. Parents may need to text or email each other in order to discuss matters. Appointments, functions or child-related events are also attended separately, as opposed to collaboratively.
How does sole custody work?
A parallel parenting arrangement may not be enough for some parents. Conflicts and difficulties between parents may interfere with a child’s upbringing. If one parent is unfit to be alone with their child, the other parent could fight for sole custody. Sole custody would allow one parent to be entirely responsible for their child. Their child would live with them and could rely entirely on the parent with custody. The other parent may have some or no visitation rights.
Parenting is not easy. But, you can get help with your child custody situation by reaching out for personalized legal guidance.