When a couple with children makes the difficult decision to get a divorce, there are some major decisions that need to be made. These decisions have a strong impact on the future of the children and the family dynamic as a whole. When custody is determined, one parent may be granted more time with the child/children than the other parent is. The courts in New Jersey generally want children to be able to maintain a relationship with both of their parents, even after divorce. They do understand that some parents are simply not fit to be the custodial parent and therefore, they may only be granted parenting time or visitation.
Parenting time is a term used to define the time that the non-custodial parent spends with the child. The courts encourage the parties to determine a workable schedule for their family as to parenting time for the non-custodial parent. Due to the difficult nature of telling a parent when they can and cannot see their child, a lot of times, the parties are unable to come to an agreement between themselves. When this occurs, the court will send the parties to a mediator who is trained to help parties come up with a custody and parenting time plan. Unfortunately, at times, the parties are unable to formulate a plan with the mediator’s assistance. When this occurs, the court will refer the family to a family services agency, and a licensed professional, whose sole focus is the best interest of the child, will develop recommendations for the parties to accept and the court to implement.
If you have questions about your current or future parenting time and custody arrangements, contact an experienced family law attorney who can provide you with assistance.
The Radol Law Firm is proud to serve the people of New Jersey in their divorce and family law, elder law, estate planning, and bankruptcy matters. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.