One of the biggest hurdles divorcing couples in New Jersey face is creating a custody schedule that works for anyone. Every family is different, and parents’ and kids’ schedules and needs must be taken into account when deciding on child custody arrangements.
Finding a schedule that suits your family
If you and your co-parent have decided on shared custody, you’ll still need to work together to find a schedule that best suits your family. Take the following factors into account to commit to a practical joint custody schedule:
- The distance between the parents
- Parents’ work and activity schedules
- The best interests of the child
- The child’s school and extracurricular activities schedule
What is alternating weeks in a custody schedule?
One of the simplest shared custody schedules is alternating weeks. In this situation, the child spends one week with Parent A and the next week with Parent B. Couples who find communication difficult may prefer this option since it keeps exchanges to a minimum. Alternating week co-parenting might best suit kids who are older and better capable of spending extended periods of time away from one of their parents.
Pros and cons of alternating weeks in your custody plan
A potential pro of alternating weeks in your child custody plan is the simplicity of setting a clear and concise schedule. Repeating schedules can make it easier for all family members to adjust to a new routine.
A potential drawback of this type of schedule is that your child will have to go an entire week without seeing your ex. This could be fine for some children, but for others, it might be too emotionally difficult.
Not all joint custody schedules are created equally. Each has its pros and cons, so you should think about your family’s scheduling needs when figuring out which pattern will best work for your family.
