Parenting your child through a divorce is a challenging endeavor. While you and your spouse still want the best for your child, you might disagree on how you give your child what they need.
Shared parenting does not work in every situation. Still, when you and your spouse are willing to work together to create a plan, you can both maintain involvement in your child’s life. Your life may look significantly different than it did before the divorce. However, it can be beneficial for your child to have regular contact with both parents still.
Here’s what you should know about shared parenting in Ohio.
Filing for shared parenting
When Ohio courts look at determining a parenting plan after a divorce, they will look at several factors, including:
- Child’s relationship with each parent
- Siblings
- History of abuse or violence
- Child’s needs
The most crucial factor is the child’s needs and best interests. Judges will consider the opinions of parents as well as the other factors, but the child’s best interests will take precedent.
When parents are willing to work together, courts are more likely to agree to a shared parenting arrangement.
Benefits of shared parenting
Although there can be conflict in a shared parenting situation, there are many benefits. Rather than limiting contact, a shared parenting agreement means your child can continue having regular contact with both parents.
A shared parenting agreement also means that both parents can make decisions regarding the child’s care. This means that instead of only being able to talk to one parent about important decisions, the child has both parents as resources.
You may feel the need to protect your child from their other parent because of your strained relationship. However, if the child has not had the same experience, the child needs to continue to have a relationship with them as long as it remains safe and healthy for them to do so.
