What does joint custody mean?

fps81 · 2021-12-31T23:44:07+00:00

Getting more custody can be expensive if the mother is not in favor of it - tens of thousands in legal fees is the bare minimum. Alabama's child support doesn't take into account parenting time less than 50%, according to https://www.custodyxchange.com/locations/usa/alabama/child-support-calculator.php Eg. whoever has less time with the kids, even if it's 51%/49%, pays a percentage of their income to the other parent. The custodial parent's income isn't factored in at all. So, financially this isn't going to change your situation for the positive.

Joint legal custody means you are consulted and have the rights to make decisions about your child. Education, medical, etc. Joint custody means the two parents have to come to an agreement on any decision before it can proceed.

I would recommend you work on getting more custody via a step-up plan. This will let you spend more time with your kids in your home. You'll probably not get more than every other weekend, some holidays and a few weeks during the summer unless you move closer. If you move closer, unfortunately, Alabama currently doesn't favor giving equal parenting time to both parents (https://dagneylaw.com/legal-blog/child-custody-laws-alabama/) but you can work up to have some weeknights every week.

My experience is, whatever was agreed to in the beginning is very hard to change. You have to have good cause and spend a lot on legal fees. You're working at a disadvantage of both status quo as well as your gender not being favored by the courts. However, I would recommend fighting for it as time with your kids is worth it in the end.

postalmaner · 2022-01-01T09:33:36+00:00

Custody and access have traditionally been referred to as "custody".

Custody is decision making (and often confoundingly, access to docmentation) on medical, school and extra-curricular, and religious.

Custody is a series of steps on each of those, varying from:

sole custody
joint custody with final decision making (defacto decision making)
joint custody

and this can be on all three matters or only one.

As the non-primary and distant household, it would be difficult to argue that the status quo should be changed--it's working as is currently. You probably should have access to documents though, and should be either able to get results from doctors. schools, teachers, and counselors. Or be included as a non-contributing participant. ("I want to hear what's going on.")

derelictherds · 2022-01-01T01:10:40+00:00

Have you tried discussing this with the mother? You might be able to work with her directly to get more time with the kids. Have you considered moving to be closer to your children?

WorkingItOutSomeday · 2021-12-31T23:41:36+00:00

Many people confuse custody with placement.

Here (WI) nearly all parents have joint custody but usually one parent will have either primary placement. Ideally there should also be split placement if things are equitable.

No-Zombie1004 · 2022-01-01T04:58:35+00:00

Nothing like the dictionary definition.

Title	What does joint custody mean?
Author	Financial_Advisor500
Upvotes	9
Comments	27
Date	December 31, 2021 11:10 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/rt5qi2/what_does_joint_custody_mean/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/what-does-joint-custody-mean.1093641 https://theredarchive.com/post/1093641

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