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Is joint custody good for my child?

On Behalf of | Mar 28, 2018 | Family Law, Firm News

It is becoming an increasingly popular trend in both Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States to award joint custody to parents. This is because the courts usually see it as beneficial for a child to have good relationships with both parents.

However, there have been some criticisms and challenges to joint custody rulings by psychologists. It is important that parents who are filing for custody of their child do not assume that filing for joint custody is always the best way to go.

What are some of the most popular objections to joint custody?

In general, psychologists have argued that in many respects, a joint custody agreement is both the best case and worst case scenario for a child. This can depend on the individual scenario and the parents’ ability to work together to make smooth transitions in the process.

It is also seen as a big compromise for children, and can mean that they grow up with a transient feeling of “being neither here nor there.” It can be seen as establishing the golden mean or an effective middle ground, but much of the time it creates a scenario where the child is stuck in the middle of two worlds.

In addition, some parents use joint custody to strategically avoid higher child custody payments. This creates a situation where the parents are using their child as a pawn to avoid financial obligations.

If you are unsure about what the right custody choice is for your child, it is important that you take the time to figure out what situation would make your child happiest.  To learn more, call us at 814-806-2518 and ask to speak with a family law attorney at the Quinn Law Firm.

Source: Psychology Today, “Joint physical custody,” accessed March 23, 2018

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