Separation can greatly affect your relationship with the children involved. Therefore, the parents must spend some quality time with the child to prevent the hard consequences of post-divorce.
To help and prevent interstate issues, New Jersey has adopted UCCA i.e. Uniform Child Custody Act.
Like other states of the US, New Jersey child custody states whether the parents can have joint custody, visitation rules, and process of ordering child custody. While deciding on custody, the court mainly considers the child’s best interest.
Besides the child’s best interest, the court also considers the following factors (not limited though):
- Child’s preference if they are 12 or older
- Parents’ fitness
- Child’s interaction with their parents
- Home environment stability
- Employment stability of parents
For joint custody, the court will judge parents’ ability to communicate and agree with each other and their cooperation level in favor of the child. The court will also check any history of drug/alcohol and domestic violence.
To avoid any error while negotiating with your spouse/partner on child custody arrangements, it is always advised to hire a child custody lawyer. Having experienced legal assistance also helps you expect the trial and prepare for it (if needed).