Shared Residential Custody (I.E. Joint Physical Custody)
Published On: February 23, 2015
Linda Nielsen’s recent review of shared residential custody (i.e. joint physical custody) research published in the American Journal of Family Law reached four general conclusions:
- Most children fare as well or better than those raised in maternal residence, especially in terms of the quality and endurance in their relationship with their fathers.
- Parents do not need to be exceptionally cooperative, without conflict, wealthy, well educated, or mutually enthusiastic about sharing the residential parenting in order for the children to benefit.
- Young adults who have lived in these families say that this arrangement was in their best interest, in contrast with those that lived with their mothers after their parent’s divorce.
- Our country, like most other industrialized countries, is undergoing a shift in custody laws, public opinion, and parents’ decisions – a shift toward more shared residential parenting.
