Deciding how to divide up parental responsibilities is one of the most emotionally challenging aspects of the divorce process. To make the decision easier, parents should consider what is best for the child.
In many cases, sharing both physical and legal responsibilities results in fewer behavioral and psychological issues for the child. However, to make joint custody work, parents need to work together and be respectful of one another.
Custody laws in Colorado
According to FindLaw, courts use the best interests of the child standard to make decisions regarding parental responsibilities, also known as custody in other states. Generally, judges tend to grant joint parental responsibilities, unless one parent lives in a different state or there is abuse or violence in the home. In the state, a mature child has a say in custody determination, and grandparents can request visitation time.
Tips to make joint custody work
Parents.com admits that sharing responsibilities is not always easy, and it offers tips to make it less stressful. Right from the start, parents should create an arrangement that takes into consideration each parent’s schedule; the child’s age, activities and personality; the distance between the two homes and the childcare situation.
Frequent and clear communication is imperative, which can be challenging for ex-spouses who have difficulty communicating with each other. Email, texts and digital calendars help parents discuss schedules and issues without having to meet face-to-face.
Showing respect to one another is one way to joint parent effectively. This means not talking negatively about the other parent, supporting each other’s parenting styles and understanding that a bad spouse does not mean that person is a bad parent. Joint parenting works the most effectively when the parents put the child’s needs over their own.