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Divorce Attorneys

When parents share custody, the schedule matters just as much as the legal description. Even well-intentioned parents can struggle when a custody arrangement looks fair on paper but proves unworkable in real life. The most successful shared custody schedules are those that prioritize the child’s stability, accommodate the parents’ realities, and minimize conflict. Below are some of the most effective shared custody schedules and the factors parents should consider when deciding what truly works. Before discussing specific schedules, it’s important to understand the guiding principle: the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, courts consider factors such as: The child’s age and developmental needs Each parent’s work schedule and availability The distance between parents’ homes (and the distance between those homes and the child’s school) The child’s school and extracurricular activities Each parent’s ability to communicate and co-parent The historical caregiving roles of each parent A schedule that works well for one family may be inappropriate for another.