In 2006 legislation was passed in the Australian parliament that was designed to ensure that shared parenting child custody arrangements were available to separated or divorced parents. What is little understood by the general public is that these laws are not mandatory and the majority of these cases decided before the courts have resulted in custody of the child or children still resting with the mother? The primary consideration of the court is that any shared parenting arrangement should be practical, safe and in the best interests of the child. This was the original intent of the legislation, and also the desires of the broader community.
As with many similar issues, the broader community often loses out against the louder voices and targeted campaigning of lobby groups that may or may not choose to present the details of the issues in a fair and balanced manner. Issues relating to family law Brisbane are especially difficult because there are usually children involved, and emotions run hot in these situations.
It becomes very difficult for the interested lay person to sift through the assumptions and distortions that can sometimes be presented to them as fact. As a result, there are some myths still surrounding this legislation, one of which is that these shared parenting child custody arrangements are mandatory. This is simply not the case.
Another misconception is that children in sole custody arrangements are less likely to become victims of child abuse than those in shared parenting arrangements. However, statistics show that 70% of child abuse cases occur in single mother households. Shared parenting has the opposite result, primarily because the children have contact with not only both parents, but with the extended families on both sides. This makes it unlikely that any child abuse would go undetected by either parent.
Shared parenting child custody arrangements have resulted in reduced incidents of violence against women and children, rather than the increase that opponents of the legislation believed we would see. Because both parents are sharing the responsibility and have the opportunity to be equally involved in the child’s life, much of the emotion is taken out of the situation, resulting in less violence.
While shared parenting reduces the child support payments to the mother, it does not lessen the financial contribution of the father. It increases it by requiring the father to provide suitable housing, furniture, clothing, toys, educational resources etc. for the use of the child or children during the time they are with him. Financial issues need to be sorted out for the benefit of the whole family, and is best left to family lawyers Brisbane who keep the situation impartial.
Children in shared parenting arrangements are often thought of as being pushed from pillar to post, but these arrangements are no different to the “every second weekend” scenario. They can be made to work in the right circumstances for the betterment of the children.
As with many similar issues, the broader community often loses out against the louder voices and targeted campaigning of lobby groups that may or may not choose to present the details of the issues in a fair and balanced manner. Issues relating to family law Brisbane are especially difficult because there are usually children involved, and emotions run hot in these situations.
It becomes very difficult for the interested lay person to sift through the assumptions and distortions that can sometimes be presented to them as fact. As a result, there are some myths still surrounding this legislation, one of which is that these shared parenting child custody arrangements are mandatory. This is simply not the case.
Another misconception is that children in sole custody arrangements are less likely to become victims of child abuse than those in shared parenting arrangements. However, statistics show that 70% of child abuse cases occur in single mother households. Shared parenting has the opposite result, primarily because the children have contact with not only both parents, but with the extended families on both sides. This makes it unlikely that any child abuse would go undetected by either parent.
Shared parenting child custody arrangements have resulted in reduced incidents of violence against women and children, rather than the increase that opponents of the legislation believed we would see. Because both parents are sharing the responsibility and have the opportunity to be equally involved in the child’s life, much of the emotion is taken out of the situation, resulting in less violence.
While shared parenting reduces the child support payments to the mother, it does not lessen the financial contribution of the father. It increases it by requiring the father to provide suitable housing, furniture, clothing, toys, educational resources etc. for the use of the child or children during the time they are with him. Financial issues need to be sorted out for the benefit of the whole family, and is best left to family lawyers Brisbane who keep the situation impartial.
Children in shared parenting arrangements are often thought of as being pushed from pillar to post, but these arrangements are no different to the “every second weekend” scenario. They can be made to work in the right circumstances for the betterment of the children.
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