WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY?
A. Joint physical custody was seen at one time as a wonderful answer to the problem of a child’s growing up without the opportunity to spend equal time with both parents. Ideally, a shared custody arrangement means that both parents maintain a “real home” for the child, including a room, toys, and clothes. This helps reinforce the idea that families are forever. In sole custody arrangements, the non-custodial parent’s every-other-weekend visits may not allow a real parent-child relationship to form or continue. Both parent and child are trying to do everything in one weekend. A joint physical custody arrangement can allow both parents to spend real parental time with the child and thus develop a better relationship. 15. Q. WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY? A. Recently, it has become apparent that joint physical custody is not the ideal solution it was once thought to be. Too often the child may be shuttled back and forth between parents and have no real feeling of a
