Joint Custody Grows in Popularity

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Illinois family law attorney

If you ask most parents who have been through a divorce with children, they will likely tell you that the most stressful part of the ordeal was the decision over child custody. Judges reviewing child custody are ordered to consider the “best interests of the child," and this is leading to more joint custody agreements around the country.

New research out of the University of Wisconsin Madison shows that over time a decrease in the number of mothers getting sole custody, while shared custody final agreements are on the rise. This shows, according to researchers, a major shift in the living situations for children of divorce when compared with the past. More than 9,000 divorce cases were reviewed in order to arrive at these findings. In those cases, shared custody increased from five to 27 percent between 1986 and 2008. Another interesting finding from the study was that high income families were more likely to have shared custody agreements.

This is good news for parents who are concerned about maintaining their relationship with children post-divorce. Divorce can be a challenging time emotionally for the entire family, but keeping some sense of stability is critical for helping children sort through the issues. As a parent, it is critical to remain involved in their lives and to work together with the other parent if awarded shared custody.

One of the best things you can do for yourself when anticipating divorce is to hire an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about both the divorce and the child custody processes. This will help to alleviate a great deal of your anxiety and concerns, and it will provide you with a window into what you can expect as your case unfolds. To learn more about the process of child custody consideration and joint custody, contact an Illinois family law attorney today.