Determining what type of residential custody arrangement is in the best interests of your child is a challenging task. The most common options used include joint and sole custody. Another alternative is shared custody, which is a form of joint custody, according to "Child Custody A to Z " by Guy J. White.
Function
The basic function of shared custody is to ensure that both parents provide a residence for their children an equal amount of time, according to "Child Custody A to Z." The objective is to divide the time between parents, such that each parent spends as close to 50 percent of his time with the child as possible.
Features
Visitation does not exist in a shared custody arrangement. There is no need for this type of scheduled visitation independent of the custodial arrangement due to the even division of time between the parents. Child support, however, does remain an issue. Unless both parents earn precisely the same income, even though they split time evenly, one parent still will have at least some sort of financial obligation to the other parent for the support of the child.
Geography
Shares custody works more effectively when the parents reside in close proximity. A situation in which parents live near each other allows for easy transfer of the child from one house to another, to school, and to other activities. Ultimately, parents and the child find it frustrating and unduly time consuming to drive a longer distance to accomplish these tasks and transfers.
Warning
Some children do not respond well to going back and forth between their parents' homes. Arguably, children enjoy more stability in a situation where they maintain a primary home with one parent and enjoy visitation in the home of the other parent on a set schedule.
Benefits
The primary benefit associated with a shared custody arrangement is that the child spends equal time with both parents and vice versa. Ultimately, relationships are built when people spend time together. The structure of shared custody eliminates scheduling disputes to some degree that arise when parents need to deal with scheduling visitation.
Bird Nesting
A variation on the shared custody concept is an arrangement often referred to as "bird nesting." Through a bird nesting plan, the parents establish a single residence for the child, according to All Academic Research. The parents rotate in and out of the house, at regularly scheduled intervals. Rather than the children moving from one house to another and back again, they stay in one location.
