Georgia parents who file for divorce may be looking for the best options to help them negotiate a new relationship as co-parents to their children. Child custody issues can be some of the most emotional aspects of a divorce, even when both parents have a strong bond with their children and there is no history of neglect or abuse. Both parents want the most time possible with their children, but divorce often means adjusting to a new style of shared time. Divorce negotiations often result in a parenting plan that lays out a framework for how key issues will be handled, including custody schedules, decision-making and mutually agreed-upon rules.
Negotiating the child custody schedule may be one of the most challenging parts of developing a parenting plan. Different plans may work best for different families, depending on the parents’ employment schedules and work style, and some families may maintain one parent with primary physical custody and the other with visitation. Other families prefer joint custody, with as close to equal time with the children as possible. Either option can provide a supportive framework for child development as long as both parents remain an active, loving part of their children’s lives.
There are different ways to set up shared child custody and time with the children, and the most common option is one week on/one week off. This schedule may make it more difficult to make plans on the job or for child care, so options like mid-week custody switches may be worthwhile for many working parents to consider.
Many different options can support healthy, happy children after their parents divorce. A family law attorney may help a client achieve a mutually acceptable agreement on child custody and other divorce matters like property division and alimony.