Most of the time, a court believes that maintaining a relationship with both parents is in the children’s best interest when a divorce occurs. When parents live close to each other, it can make it easy to make a custody arrangement. Maybe one parent has primary custody and the other gets to visit on a weekday and take the kids to their place every other weekend. Unfortunately, if parents live far away from each other, that kind of arrangement wouldn’t really work. A long-distance divorce and child custody arrangement can be difficult to work out, but our Morris County, NJ child custody attorneys can help you stand up for yourself and fight for a fair deal.
What Considerations Go Into Making Long-Distance Custody Arrangements?
There are a few factors that are important to consider when deciding custody in a long-distance divorce. A judge is likely to think about:
- The finances of both parents
- How far apart you and your ex’s homes are
- What travel expenses could look like
- The school schedules for all of your children
- The age of the children
Maybe you’re close enough to have visitation on long weekends, or maybe you need to wait until a long break from school, like the summer months. Whether your kids are old enough to travel on their own can also make a difference.
How Can Parents Make Long-Distance Custody Arrangements Less Stressful?
It can be tough to deal with a former spouse on a regular basis, but the key is to just think about your kids. Maintaining a good co-parenting relationship is well worth the effort if it allows you more time with your children. You and your ex are going to have to discuss how to address matters like your children getting older and enrolling in activities or sports that might interfere with normal visitation schedules. It’s also good to be flexible. For example, you could be willing to meet your ex at a halfway point so that no one has to drive all the way to the other’s home.
What If Custody Arrangements Need to Change?
If you or your spouse move or your children’s schedules change as they get older, it may be necessary to change your custody arrangements. Whether you are still going to be in a long-distance situation or you have moved closer to your former spouse, this means coming to the negotiating table and figuring out what kinds of changes could work well for everyone.
You may not even have to go to court to do this. Mediation sessions, where you and your ex discuss the matter with the help of a neutral mediator, can be a great way to discuss your current custody arrangements and how they should change.
Talk to Our Experienced Custody Attorneys
If you want to learn more about how our lawyers can help you work out a fair long-distance custody arrangement, contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, L.L.C. We can schedule a consultation and tell you more about what we can do to help you address this difficult situation.
