When you are undergoing a divorce, one of the more challenging aspects of the divorce is deciding on child custody and time-sharing. This is a piece of legal jargon you might hear occasionally and it is also referred to as the visitation schedule or parenting time.
Custody
After a divorce, both parents will usually have some form of physical custody. The courts generally agree that children are better off when both parents play an active role in their lives. While both parents are usually allowed to have full control over decision-making, there are some cases where the courts might decide that this is not in the best interest of the child. This is referred to as sole legal custody.
When a parent has sole legal custody, this means that the parent's home will be where the child will live. Otherwise, both parents will have joint custody.
Time-sharing is essentially when both parents determine the amount of time that they will share with their children. In many states, there will be a standard time-sharing schedule that you will be expected to follow. It might be something as simple as your child spending every other week with another child. However, depending on your work schedules, you may need to create a time-sharing agreement that is not ideal.
Conflicts Involving Time-Sharing
Unfortunately, you may not be able to come to an amicable agreement regarding how you and your partner will spend time with your child. For example, you may feel that there is a way that your time-sharing agreement should be revised. Or, you may even believe that your ex is acting in bad faith. For example, your ex might be making it more difficult to see your child as a way to punish you. If this is the case, you will want to speak with a custody attorney to learn about your legal options.
Another situation is where you might have special circumstances that your partner is not taking into consideration. For example, your child might have special needs and you may need to make changes to the time-sharing schedule so your child can receive the treatment that he needs. Or, your child might have special interests such as extracurricular activities that the schedules need to be built around. If this is the case, you may need to speak with a divorce lawyer about your options if your ex is not being reasonable.
