As Kentucky parents go through the divorce process, they often focus on how the separation may affect their children. This is especially important when considering questions of child custody. There is a line of thought that says that granting sole custody to the mother is in the best interests of the child. Individuals who share this philosophy believe that infants and toddlers fare better when they are able to spend the night in the same home as their mothers. This has led to a number of fathers accepting an arrangement where the mother has sole custody.
There are many fathers who are actively engaged in the lives of their kids. For these fathers, the idea of giving sole custody to the mother is not something they agree with.
A modern understanding of child development seems to favor the idea of 50-50 joint physical and legal custody. There is evidence that shows that children of divorced parents who spend equal time with the mother and father fare better than those who are solely with one parent. Joint-custody kids tend to have better grades in school and improved emotional health. Furthermore, they are less likely to engage in destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse.
Fathers who do not have joint custody of their children may feel that their parental relationships are irreparably damaged. Because of how painful it is for some fathers to only see their children on a rare basis, they eventually fade away from the picture.
Parents who are interested in fighting for joint custody may want to talk to a family law attorney. Legal counsel could help them by drawing up visitation schedules and custody cases. They may be able to represent the client in child custody hearings too.