Child Visitation: Common Arrangements for Co-Parenting
Divorce or separation can be a challenging time for all parties involved, particularly when children are involved. One of the most significant challenges is determining child custody arrangements that are in the best interest of the child. Often, co-parenting arrangements involve visitation schedules so that both parents can maintain a meaningful relationship with their child. In this article, we will discuss the common arrangements for child visitation and what you should know about each option.
Sole Custody with Visitation
In some cases, one parent may have sole custody of the child, with the other parent designated as the non-custodial parent. In this arrangement, the non-custodial parent may be granted visitation rights, which typically include regularly scheduled visits, overnight stays, and holiday schedules. The frequency and duration of visits can be decided by the parents or through a court order.
Joint Custody with Visitation
Joint custody is another common arrangement for co-parenting, where both parents share legal and physical custody of their child. In this case, the child may spend equal time with each parent, or the parents may designate a primary residence while still sharing custody. Visitation can be granted to the non-custodial parent on a mutually agreed-upon schedule or a court-ordered schedule.
Supervised Visitation
In some cases, court-ordered supervised visitation may be necessary if there are concerns about the child’s safety or well-being while in the care of the non-custodial parent. A third-party supervisor, such as a social worker, therapist, or family member, may be present during visits to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.
Virtual Visitation
Virtual visitation is another arrangement that has become more common in recent years, especially in cases where one parent may live far away from the child. Video conferencing and phone calls can provide a way for the non-custodial parent to stay connected with their child and participate in their lives despite the distance.
Conclusion
When it comes to child visitation arrangements, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each family’s situation is unique, and it’s important to choose an arrangement that works best for everyone involved, particularly the child. Communication and compromise are key when determining visitation schedules that will enable both parents to participate in their child’s life while fostering healthy relationships.
While parents can choose to come up with their own unique schedules regarding custody arrangements, there are some common child visitation schedules that are pre-established.
These schedules are usually considered to be a fair and balanced way of making sure that both parents have the opportunity to take an active role in their child’s life.
In modern jurisprudence, the mother of the child is generally favored when it comes to child visitation. Laws and reform efforts have taken place due to the belief that fathers should be able to take a larger part in their child’s life. While mother still tends to get primary custody in court, many fathers have fought to spend more time with their children.
The courts have recognized that fathers should be able to spend more time with their children and have a more balanced child visitation schedule. Even the word visitation has fallen out of favor, with the phrase parenting, replacing it as a way of describing the new feeling behind being an active parent despite divorce or break-up.
Due to the high rate of divorce, many child visitation schedules have to be made on a yearly basis. As time progresses, courts that determine cases, based on child visitation laws have realized that depriving a child of constant access to their father is not beneficial. The courts have been changing the standard child visitation schedule to reflect this sentiment.
