Are you searching for information about shared parenting during or after a divorce? Kentucky family law establishes a “rebuttable presumption” that it is in the best interests of a child to share equal time with each parent. This model serves as the starting point for all child custody and visitation discussions in Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown, or Louisville, Kentucky.
This is the reason that most child custody and visitation orders in Kentucky involve shared parenting and a sharing of the legal rights regarding important decisions in each child’s life. Our Family Court usually issues “temporary” orders regarding child custody and visitation near the beginning of the divorce process. “Temporary” in this context means until the Court issues their final or “permanent” orders after all issues associated with the children have been decided, often at the end of the divorce process.
Each parent should understand the importance of their actions and behavior during temporary child custody and visitation orders. The Judge scrutinizes the communications, actions, and conduct of each party throughout the divorce process. The ability of each co-parent to effectively share their responsibilities of caring for each child will have a significant impact on permanent orders in most cases. Shared parenting involves the expectation that each parent is fully informed about any changes or developments in the health, schedule, or needs of each child.
Joint custody or shared parenting during or after a divorce requires effective communication, adherence to a schedule, and attention to each child’s best interests. It is usually fine for parents to adjust schedules when a child is ill or trade time to facilitate a vacation or a specific activity. It is also essential to ensure each child has open and consistent communications with the other parent while they are under your roof.
Pay close attention to your texts, emails, and voicemails. The best strategy involves avoiding any form of communication when you are in the midst of anger or other intense emotions. Remember, these communications can become evidence against your own interests at any time during or after the divorce.
Keep adult issues between the adults. Shared parenting during or after a divorce requires each party to protect the relationship of each child with the other parent. You may have strong feelings about the other parent and their choices. Still, those thoughts and any related discussion must remain between the parents. Be careful about what you say about the child’s other parent in front of the child(ren). Any attempt to limit communications, fail to abide by ordered schedules, denigrate the other parent in front of the child(ren), or manipulate the feelings of a child toward a former spouse or partner (known legally as “parental alienation”) can result in a loss of parenting rights and time with the child(ren).
How will a new partner be introduced into the situation? Can you reach an agreement on how new adult relationships will be managed within the context of each child’s life, arrangements in the household in “off” times versus what is appropriate in the presence of the child(ren), and even at extra-curricular activities and events?
Being a good, effective co-parent means working constructively with the other parent to raise and encourage each child. Issues of discipline, performance at school, and even bedtimes and boundaries should be discussed and agreed upon before shared parenting begins. These topics should be continuous conversations based on each child’s unique behaviors, needs, and experiences.
A well-crafted parenting plan should consider every possible scenario and detail the intentions each parent intends to uphold as a shared parenting partner. Visitation, or parenting time, is not a right. It is a responsibility. Kentucky’s Family Courts expect each parent to act upon and protect the best interests of each child. It always helps to remember that existing custody and visitation orders can be modified at any time by the Court.
We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get answers to your questions and to learn more about your unique circumstances and how to protect what is most important to you in your family law case.
