The end of your marriage could impact your kids’ mental and emotional health, and like many parents, you will naturally want to do everything possible to protect them. One important and practical way you can do this is by providing a custody and visitation order that makes sense and will work long into the future. As you consider your options, you will benefit from thinking about how you can develop a routine that will provide stability and security.
There is no such thing as a perfect custody and visitation order. However, as the parent, you know better than anyone what your child needs and will require during and after your divorce. In order to provide your child with the most practical custody order, you may have to set aside your own feelings and focus on what will be best long-term for the youngest members of the family.
A schedule suitable for your family
Your North Carolina family’s needs are specific and unique. When you consider your custody and visitation options, you will need to think about your work schedule, medical needs of your children and other factors that are specific to your situation. There are a range of different custody plans and options, and possible options for your family’s routine include the following:
- Bi-weekly rotation — With this custody plan, the children will alternate weeks at their parents’ homes, spending one week with one parent, then going to the other the following week.
- 2-2-3 routine — With this custody order, the kids will go to one parent for two days, then the other parent for two days, then back to the other parent for three. The rotation will then flip.
- Non-50-50 routine — There are times when sharing time on a 50-50 basis is not possible or in the interests of the children. However, these arrangements can still provide kids with the opportunity to have strong relationships with both parents.
A focus on the kids
It is important to make custody and visitation choices based on what will make the most sense for your kids long-term. If you are unsure of how to create a custody schedule that is beneficial for both you and your kids, you will find it useful to speak with an experienced professional regarding your options and the steps you can take that will allow you to provide your kids with as much continuity of lifestyle as possible and strong relationships with both parents.
