As a parent in Massachusetts who is getting a divorce, you will also have to deal with child custody matters. At the Law Offices of Ira C. Yellin, LLC, we are here to help you examine one of the popular options: joint custody.
What can joint custody do for you? Primarily, it can serve in the best interest of your child, which is likely your number one concern and also what the courts will look at when determining who to house the child with.
According to some studies that have been done, joint custody provides a lot of benefits to the child in a divorce. This includes having a steadier financial support system and being able to continue strengthening and growing the bond with both parents, as opposed to favoring one over the other.
In these studies, it was shown that children of joint custody tend to have fewer behavioral problems. They act out less in school, have more respect for authority figures, and have an easier time making friends with peers. They also report fewer and less severe changes in mental health in the aftermath of a divorce. Children of sole custody, on the other hand, seem to suffer from anxiety, depression and even PTSD to higher intensities.
If you have any other questions about the child custody options that may be available to you, consider taking a look at our web page, linked here. What works for one family may not necessarily work for all, so it is important to have a good idea of what does or doesn’t fit your family’s needs.