What is Shared Parenting?
A shared parenting arrangement provides both parents with the opportunity to share in making important decisions for their children including decisions regarding education, healthcare, religion, and extra-curricular activities. It also allows both parents to share in the responsibilities of the day-to-day care and upbringing of their children. The theory behind shared parenting is that both parents should be actively involved in raising their children because it is in the best interest of children to have both parents play an active role in their lives.
Research conducted by the International Council on Shared Parenting seems to support the theory that shared parenting is the best custody arrangement for most children.
Scholars Arrive at Important Conclusions Regarding Shared Parenting
The International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) hosted the First International Conference on Shared Parenting in 2014. The conference consisted of divorce scholars and family practitioners (legal, medical, and mental health) who discussed and debated the feasibility of shared parenting. The attendees arrived at six consensus statements regarding shared parenting.
Shared parenting is the most favorable form of custody for child development and child well-being. Shared parenting plans should provide a minimum of one-third of the time with each parent. However, shared parenting plans that provide for a 50-50 split of time provide additional benefits. The time with each parent should include time during the week and on weekends.
Shared parenting should be defined as “the assumption of shared responsibilities and presumption of shared rights in regard to the parenting of children by fathers and mothers who are living together and apart.” In other words, parents should share in making decisions for their children in addition to share the day-to-day responsibilities for caring and raising their children.
A child’s right to be raised by both parents is supported by international human rights as well as the constitutional rights of many countries. Therefore, laws should be written to allow courts to issue co-parenting orders even if one parent objects to a co-parenting arrangement.
The principle that shared parenting is the best arrangement for the majority of children should be one of the principles that guide the legal determination of parenting after a divorce. It should also be recognized that co-parenting is usually in the best interest of the children.
Even though co-parenting should be considered the best option for most children, it is not always the best solution for cases where family violence and/or child abuse exists. In those situations, the court should investigate further prior to considering co-parenting as the best arrangement for the child.
A network of family relationship centers that offer family mediation and other support services are critical for the success of co-parenting.
Benefits of Shared Parenting Plans in North Carolina
Shared parenting does have many benefits for the children of divorce and their parents. Benefits of shared parenting including but are not limited to:
Shared parenting allows the child to maintain strong, healthy relationships with both parents by allowing the child to live in both households.
When parents cooperate and put their differences aside, children benefit by avoiding the conflict associated with custody battles.
Parents remain more active in the day-to-day activities of their children.
Children get to spend more time with each parent and extended family members of each parent.
Parents are able to avoid extensive childcare by parties other than the parents.
Children do not feel as if they are favoring one parent over the other. Shared parenting can remove some of the guilt a child may feel after a divorce.
Shared Parenting in North Carolina
North Carolina courts look at the child’s best interest when determining child custody. If parents are able to cooperate, shared parenting or joint custody is an option in North Carolina. North Carolina custody law provides for joint or shared physical custody and legal custody.
Contact an Experienced Jacksonville Parenting Rights Lawyer
“Attorneys Who Aggressively Protect Your Rights”
The parenting rights lawyer of The Trevor J. Avery Law Firm want to help you protect your rights as a parent while developing a parenting plan that meets the needs of your child. Our parenting rights lawyer understands the challenges you face when parenting your children with your ex-spouse. We want to help you develop a parenting plan that is in the best interest of you and your children.
We represent clients throughout Duplin County, Onslow County and the surrounding communities. Call our office at (910) 405-8459 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation with an experienced shared parenting rights lawyer.