During a divorce, the change in the life New Jersey kids experience at home can have some negative impacts on their health, happiness and performance at school, especially if one parent is granted full custody. In fact, one parent, usually the mother, is still awarded physical custody of the children in 80 percent of all child custody cases.
There are a number of reasons the courts have continued to award full custody to one parent. It was believed, for example, that the actual divorce could cause stress for the children. Some believe that shared parenting arrangements could put the children right in the middle of the conflict or put them in a situation where they will be pressured to side with one parent over the other. As such, many believe that it is more beneficial for the children to stay with one parent and see the other parent once a week and on the weekends.
A study found that the quality of the children’s relationship with both parents is the most important thing. Children who are in shared parenting arrangements, which gives them the opportunity to establish strong relationships with their parents, have been shown to do better on every measure, particularly when it comes to fewer pregnancies and reduced drug use.
The transition period that both the kids and the parents experience during a divorce can be difficult for everyone involved. As such, finding a new normal and settling into a routine as quickly as possible can help everyone move on. A family law attorney may negotiate a child custody schedule for parents who want to create a shared parenting arrangement that fosters healthy relationships between both parents and the children.
