When parents in New Mexico decide to divorce, they are often faced with numerous serious decisions to make. This often creates a highly stressful and exhausting situation for everyone involved. While parents address issues concerning their children, their kids are just as impacted by these choices. The decisions concerning their children such as child support and custody might take some time to form an agreement. Even after an agreement is reached, issues concerning visitation and custody could still present themselves.

When creating child custody arrangements, parents and the courts focus on the best interest of the child. In many cases, one parent obtains primary custody, while the other parent is awarded parenting time during the evenings, weekends and holidays. While this has been the norm over the past few decades, other custody arrangements have developed in order to promote the stability and well-being of the child, such as a shared parenting or co-parenting arrangement.

Divorce could be a very messy process, which could lead to a very complex post-divorce life. Custody and living arrangement could seriously impact the life of a child post-divorce. Studies indicate that having access to both parents in crucial after the dissolution of their parents. Shared parenting often serves the best interests of the child, but parents and children should understand that access to extended family is also important.

Those seeking to address custody issues should understand what is in the best interest of the children. Parents, children and grandparents should be able to voice their opinions in order to reach a fair agreement that serves the well-being of the children.

Source: The Federalist, “What ‘New’ Studies Say Is Best For Children Of Fractured Homes,” Leslie Loftis, Oct. 6, 2014