The divorce process in New Jersey can be tough for spouses at any stage of life, but it can be especially challenging for you if you are a parent to young children. For many divorcing parents, the thought of not having the luxury of seeing their children whenever they wish may be difficult. However, the good news is that the creation of a child custody agreement does not signal the end of your relationship with your child following divorce.
In your child custody agreement, you and your soon-to-be ex can determine whether you will have joint custody of the children or sole custody of them. Joint physical custody is where your children split time between your home and your future ex’s home. Meanwhile, joint legal custody is where you both can make decisions regarding your children’s upbringing and welfare. The vast majority of child custody agreements include joint custody.
Although joint custody remains the most commonly sought-after arrangement, sole custody may be best for you, depending on your situation. Sole custody is where only you or the other party has physical or legal custody of the children. For example, the children may live with you alone, or maybe you are the only one to make decisions concerning the children’s religions upbringing. In this situation, you might need to put together a parenting time or visitation plan so that the other parent can still see the children.
Dealing with child custody can certainly be an overwhelming and stressful aspect of divorce. However, an attorney can guide you through this process so that you can work toward a fair and comprehensive agreement with the other parent. The attorney’s goal is to help you to achieve an outcome that both satisfies you and takes into consideration the best interests of your children in New Jersey.