It is truly said that when a couple goes through a divorce, the sufferers are the children. They need the love and care from both mother and father. They go through a series of scenarios but then eventually have to accept the situation. When the parents separate with the advice of their divorce attorneys, the children live with one parent obviously and the other parent can only visit the child or the child may visit them. There can be many outcomes of a divorce such as.

Sole Physical Custody Of Children

Sole physical custody means that the child or children live with one parent in their homes. That parent is responsible for the upbringing and day to day affairs of the child and can also take major decisions regarding their future. The parent is the sole custodian of the children and known as the “sole custodial parent” and the other parent is known as the “non-custodial parent“. In most of the cases the sole custodial parent is the mother. In this case the non-custodial parent is granted liberal visitation and can even have the option of visiting anytime they want and for long hours.

Joint Custody Of Children

Joint or shared custody means that both the parents are equally responsible for the children. The child will live with both the divorced parents in their own houses. The court will give equal time and days to both the parents and they will have to fulfill the responsibilities. If anytime one parent is not able to care for the children then only one most responsible parent will be granted the sole physical custody.

However, sole physical custody comes with its share of pros and cons.

Pros Of Sole Physical Custody

1. In most cases the parent who has been granted the sole physical custody is also given the original home where the child lived with his or her parents. This means that the children will not have to change their home and their personal and safe comfort zone. This will make it less disturbing for the children. The children have made memories with both the parents in the house and changing it will affect their mental health. The children can easily follow their previous routines.
2. Living with one parent means the children will not have to go back and forth in 2 homes and carry their stuff to and fro. It’s easier to stay at one place and not change their style and routine.
3. Living in their previous home means they will not have to change their school, friends and neighborhood. Changing school and moving to a new neighborhood can be quite stressful for them because they are already trying hard to accept that they do not have a loving family anymore and they are being raised by a single parent.
4. The non-custodial parent is given open visitation so they can meet them whenever they want.

Cons Of Sole Physical Custody

1. The child or children are not spending equal time with both the parents. They are physically living with one parent and just meeting the other for weekends or in vacations.
2. The children are only visiting the non-custodial parents which makes the children and the parent miss each other a lot and this can also lead to mental distress and behavioral changes in the children
3. The non-custodial parent may feel that the physical custody granted is unjust and may reopen the case and fight for joint custody of the children which may cause more disturbance, stress and mental imbalance in the children.
4. The non-custodial parent may miss out important details and small successes of the children and feel just a visitor in their life rather than a part of life. The parent would also feel a failure and that he or she is not capable of bringing up the children and that is why got denied physical custody and feel that the custodial parent is better off.

Conclusion

As a parent it is your responsibility to let the children portray their inner feelings and share everything. The non-custodial parent should also be allowed to have a healthy relationship with the children and get to spend enough time with them. Talk with your family lawyer Fairfax VA and the spouse to decide on child custody outside of court.