Types of Custody
There are two types of custody – sole custody and joint custody. Technically, in Tennessee, we no longer use these words. Instead, we call it parenting time; in essence, parents either share equal time with their children or they do not. Who decides how much time you spend with your child during and after a divorce?
YOU DO – at least at first.
The Judges in Wilson, Smith, and Macon Counties are all fair and skilled in the Tennessee Law. However, they will be the first to tell you that if you and your spouse can’t decide how to divide time between your children, they will be forced to do it for you.No matter if you spend one hour or two days arguing your case to the Judge, no one knows your children as you do. For this reason, parenting time is something you should try to settle with your spouse. It may mean a lot of give and take, but the alternative, often, is not anything either of you may like.
I am often asked my opinion about types of custody.
In some respects, a child seeing both parents as much as possible is ideal. Joint custody or shared parenting can take on many forms; we have helped prepare parenting plans where each parent has week-to-week parenting while others find a three-day/four day weekly split works for them. In some cases, we have prepared plans where one parent has the child during the school year, and the other has the child during breaks.
For some children, this works. For others, it’s a disaster. Some children need more consistency than others. They need one home, one table on which they do their homework each night, and one schedule they can control. However, the decision is not mine to make. You know your children and what is best for them. If you and your spouse can’t agree, the Judge in your case will decide for both of you.
If you have questions about types of custody, contact Us. https://www.kane-law.com/contact-us/