Joint physical custody is when both parents maintain an equitable responsibility to physically house and care for their child. It is more than likely that the New York family court may order you and your former spouse to this arrangement, unless extenuating circumstances are at play. Follow along to find out the joint physical custody schedules commonly ordered by the family court and how a proficient Morristown child custody lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you best abide by yours.
What are joint physical custody schedules commonly ordered by the New York family court?
It is worth mentioning that joint physical custody does not necessarily mean your child must make an even 50/50 split in their time to be with both you and your former spouse. Rather, the New York family court may enforce any one of the following parenting schedules:
- An alternating week schedule: this is when a child spends one week with one parent and the next week with the other.
- A two-week schedule: this is when a child spends two weeks with one parent and the next two weeks with the other.
- An every-weekend schedule: this is when a child spends the weekdays with one parent and extended weekends with the other.
- A four-three schedule: this is when a child spends four days with one parent and three days with the other.
- A two-two-three schedule: this is when a child spends two days with one parent, two days with the other, and then alternates three-day weekends.
- A two-two-five-five schedule: this is when a child spends two days with one parent, two days with the other; then five days with the first parent and five days with the second.
- A three-four-four-three schedule: this is when a child spends three days with one parent, four days with the other; then four days with the first parent and three days with the second.
Further, the version of joint physical custody that the court may schedule may depend on the following factors:
- The educational, medical, and other special needs of your child.
- The geographical distance between your and your former spouse’s primary residences.
- The amount of involvement both you and your former spouse express to want in your child’s life.
What must I do to comply with my custody order?
You may not necessarily agree with the parenting schedule set forth for you and your former spouse, but this does not mean that you can outright disrespect it. This is for the sake of your child’s best interest and to avoid being punished by the New York family court. Therefore, the following tips may aid you in complying with your custody order to the best of your ability:
- Do not prevent your child from contacting your former spouse during your scheduled time.
- Do not be late when dropping off your child at their scheduled time with your former spouse.
- Do not take your child from your former spouse’s care without their consent or deny their parenting time.
But if you have a gut feeling that your former spouse is violating your custody rights, it is best that you first consult with a talented Morristown family law attorney. So please contact us at Graves Andrews, LLC today.
