There are many issues to address when couples from Oregon or elsewhere around the country go through a divorce. If a couple has children, the topic of child custody is often one of the more complex issues that is discussed. Many psychologists and child experts are now citing that children fare better when parenting is shared with both mother and father, following a divorce.
Statistics show that mothers traditionally have been granted full physical custody roughly 80 percent of the time. Fathers often saw their children every other weekend and perhaps one night during a week. This pattern was supported because authorities believed that children would experience less stress because they would not observe conflict between their parents. However, more recent studies have caused many experts to question traditional custody norms.
Child advocates believe that conflict avoidance should not be the only factor in making custody decisions. While parental conflict could certainly cause stress to children, it may be short-lived. The opportunity to share equal time with both parents would be more beneficial to the children in the long run.
A study published in a journal of the American Psychological Association shows that having a relationship with both parents is more helpful to the children. Measures further demonstrate that children in shared custody arrangements have lower incidences of drug use and teen pregnancy. Some states have actually passed laws that support shared parenting.
It is important to have strong legal guidance when going through a divorce, especially when addressing child custody issues. An Oregon divorce attorney can provide much-needed assistance during the process. An experienced lawyer will protect clients’ rights and work toward achieving the best possible outcome in the divorce proceedings.
Source: watertowndailytimes.com, “Who gets the kids? New study supports shared custody for children in divorce“, Gail Rosenblum, Oct. 11, 2017
