A “50/50 custody” arrangement may work well for spouses that divorce. As the name reveals, 50/50 custody involves both parents spending an equal amount of time with their children. Expect the child or children to live with both parents six months out of the year with this arrangement. While 50/50 custody works for some parents in Texas, it might not be appropriate for everyone.
Considerations that arise with custody agreements
If both ex-spouses live close to one another, a child might go from either resident and attend the same school without worries. However, if one spouse lives 90 minutes away, the distance may make things challenging. Perhaps a different custody arrangement may work better here.
Individual circumstances vary, though. Sometimes, the ex-spouses and their children could handle 50/50 custody without any troubles. Even splitting custody times during the same week might work fine. The parents would have to think about such a scenario carefully. The schedule must work reasonably well enough to meet the needs of the child.
Decisions and child custody negotiations
Several factors come into consideration when weighing 50/50 custody, and the age of the children could sway court decisions. When the children are very young, stability might become a critical issue. If the child is much older, then split custody might not have as much of an impact. For example, a 16-year-old may drive and be more independent than someone much younger.
Child custody and visitation negotiations may center on the specifics of a 50/50 agreement. Both spouses likely need to prove to the court that the arrangement serves the child’s best interests. Sometimes, the court may rule against parents’ preferences if their plans do not support those best interests. If it appears that one parent cannot provide a safe and healthy living space, for example, the courts might not want the child exposed to such an environment.
An attorney could help with child custody negotiations. The attorney may even make suggestions about joint custody arrangements based on the client’s situation.