Should you aim for full or shared custody of your child?

Once you file for divorce in New York, you might be tempted to file for full physical custody of your children. Full custody has its benefits, but it’s also challenging. If your former spouse is a good parent, you might want to aim for shared custody instead.

What are the pros and cons of shared custody?

When you get shared child custody, you’ll get time off when your former spouse has your child for a week. If you’re in the middle of a divorce trial, it might seem easy to assume that you won’t want to relinquish custody of your child. However, once the divorce is over, you’ll have to deal with the fact that you’re a single parent who gets little help from their former spouse. Shared custody lets you take a break from parenting once in a while.

Since your child lives in two different areas, they’ll have access to different features that one house might not provide. For example, you might live in the city while your former spouse lives in a rural area. One parent might also live closer to parks, events and recreational activities. This allows your child to enjoy different experiences during their childhood.

However, shared custody can be difficult if you and your former spouse don’t live in the same area. You’ll have to figure out how to transport your child from one place to another. Your divorce attorney might recommend living in the same school district so one parent can drop off the child and the other parent can pick them up.

What if you and your former spouse don’t live in the same region?

Child custody cases become even more challenging if one parent lives several miles away from the other. Your attorney might offer suggestions to make transportation as painless as possible.