The goal of custody and visitation decisions should be the child’s
long-term optimal development, including having the necessary warm and
unencumbered relationship with each parent as needed at each developmental
stage. Although the mothers, unless deemed incompetent (eg, because
of substance abuse) commonly retain physical custody, especially of
young children, agreements for joint parenting are often more effective
in supporting the benefits of a strong relationship with the father
and the father’s ongoing involvement. Increasingly, courts
and legislative statutes encourage parents to negotiate the details of
joint physical and legal custody. Joint physical custody implies
a close to equal time-sharing arrangement; legal custody relates
to shared authority in decision making, which is relevant to such
issues as obtaining consent for medical care. If joint physical
or legal custody is used to expedite contentious cases, implementation
of joint custody often becomes the basis for ongoing discord.8 Under
such circumstances, every hour, activity, vacation, and option in
the child’s life is a potential vehicle to express anger
and initiate another round of poor-faith negotiations. In a positive context,
joint custody offers an opportunity for both parents to remain highly
involved in their child’s daily life and facilitates appropriate
changes in schedule and even physical custody as the child grows
older. However, such arrangements require cooperative, flexible parents
who are able to focus on the child’s needs and who are
willing to live in reasonable proximity (ideally in the same community)
of each other for many years.