Joint or Shared legal and physical Child Custody

To:  North Carolina Family Law Legislators, Judges, and Administrator’s

To: North Carolina Family Law Legislators, Judges, and Administrator’s


Petition in favor of Joint/Shared legal and physical Custody.


“The best interest of the child”; we often hear this phrase in reference to child-custody cases, but what does it really mean? Obviously, the best possible environment for any child is an emotionally healthy home with 2 parents who love each other and their offspring. When that is no longer possible, due to divorce, what then can we do to try to minimize the traumatic effect the loss of that family unit will have on the children?





More often than not in the case of divorce, one parent gets pushed to the margins of their children’s lives. Yet, studies done over the past 15-20 years have proven overwhelmingly, that only having one parent involve in the childslife has a profoundly negative effect on most children over the long term. Statistics show that one parent absence, whether voluntary or forced, contributes to much higher incidence of teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, poor academic performance, lower self-esteem, acting out behaviors, feelings of abandonment, distrust, hostility, difficulty forming lasting relationships, gender identity confusion, and teen suicide. It would seem then, that sole maternal custody, where one parent gets relegated to mere visitor status, is NOT in the best interest of any child.





But this is not just a parantal rights issue. Children are suffering the emotional pain of not being able to have a relationship with a parent that they love and what to have a close relationship with. Shouldn’t children have right to have a relationship with both parents?





Why shouldn’t BOTH parents share EQUALLY in the physical, emotional and financial responsibility for their children after divorce? Mothers and fathers both play vital roles in the development of a happy healthy child. The legal standard SHOULD begin at 50/50 custody, with mediated (if necessary) negotiation between parents as to what schedule best accommodates their and the children’s needs. The only exception should be in cases where a parent is proven to commit abuse or neglect and is considered “unfit” as a parent.





The current system creates unnecessary litigation and added conflict between parents as they jockey to position themselves in the most favorable light for the court. By equally respecting the bonds children share with each of their parents, a bill for the presumption of joint custody would encourage co-parenting and cooperation between divorced couples. Statistics show that in states where joint custody is the legal presumption, divorce rates are lower than in states where it is not. This petition will be brought before the legislators of North Carolina in an effort to initiate much needed change in family law. Please sign below if you feel that ALL parents have the right to the EQUAL companionship, care and custody of his or her children, and that Shared custody should be the presumptive standard in our courts and state agencies. Our children deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Joint or Shared legal and physical Child Custody Petition to North Carolina Family Law Legislators, Judges, and Administrator’s was created by and written by Bob Hope III (bobhopeiii48@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.