./ /~,. .Rcpr;ntcdbyPcrmi~sionofNationalC911egeforProbateJudges3ndBostonUniversitySchoolofLaw,ProbateLawJournal,Vol~No.3,19-tPSYCHOLOGICALStTPPORTFORAREBUTTABLEPRESU!\1PTIO~OFJOL'\TCUSTODYDR..1tlARLI~s.POT4SH* Thisarticletdl/focusontht'rest'archdalointht'/ieldofjninlcus;odyandtheposl-di\'orcefomi/y.Jrwillt'xploreIhepsychoio[!icalbenf'fiuofiniriallypresllminRjointcustodyincpurrpr(.('tt'din~s,andoffersomt'practicalFuidt'/int'sforjudRf!'!iandaltornr)'sleiIISf'inassisl~'ngpart'ntst...;rt.main- tainingcontactandC1!rf't'in1!onIt'rmsinIhebt'stintereslSoftnI.'child,Byunderstandingthechi/d'spsychologicaldt'\'e/opml"nlandtheimporlanceofsudrfaclOrsasIhepart'nrs'ps~'cho/c)!l;ca/stall',socinaJ\';1"\'5,andtht'legalproct'ssitself,apOlt'n/ial/yCO,tlP/t,t,Tcustodydt'lerminalion('anbemademoremano!!f!'ab/eandilSout,'omemort',';ableforIhecourlandfamiliesoftodayIlndIOmorro"', 1.DIVORCEADJUSTME:IlT-ACOMPLEXTAS~ Legaldivorceservesthefunctionofallowingth~panies10remarry.Itis, however.preced~dandfollowedbyfiveotherdivorc~experiences:theemotionaldivorce.theeconomicdivorce.th~co-parentaJdivorce(incaseswithchildren),communitydivorce.andpsychicdivorce.'Allsixcomp~ nentsofthisseparationexperiencemustbedealtwith:theprocessbegJnslongbeforeth~iega!separation.andmayendlongafterth~fiaaldecree. Divorceisfrequentlylin~~dtoemotionalandphysicaldisordersontheIpanofparentsand/orchild,:Theneat.easydivorceisasupremerarity,tSuchmonumc:ntalchangerequirestim~toadjusttothelossof..theway:thingsused10be,"Tnestressofchangeisreal.K'hetherornotthedi\'orct'ist,M'~lcomed. ~.:.,~~'Thechildexperiencesdivorceinfourcontexts,3Firstaretheculturalf.,-!;~~~<.beliefs.valuesandattitudesthatinfluencethechild'sp~rceptjonsofthe~~-?(;~~',.'.family,ThechildwhoisfamiliarwithdIvorceandstep-families~andlivesin.ft1~'.',. !it:~'f:,,~7'.Dr.Potashisapsychologistwithaprivatepracficeinindividualandfamil~ ~~Ii:~craP)'inBrookline~dBosto~,Ma~sachusetts.Shehasextensiveexpenencev.ith,~....!beProbateandFanutyCoonsIntherolesofguardianadhtem.expenwItness.aDdi'.~:..;ptycholo,icaJconsultanttojudgesandattorneys. '.~j:~.'.'P.'BoHANNON.DtvoacEANDAFTER(197O),.-7~r'~tJ'S~f!'Bioom.AsherIiWhite.Marita/DisruplionasDStrt'ssor:ARt'\'it'M'Dnd~...:::.:..~h. ~~-:-_::~~"~#Ylu,'15PsYCHOLOGICALBULL.867(1978). ~"r-~:-,~S~~,~nt'l'Glty.Kurdek,AnJntt'S!ralh't'Pl."rsp('('li,'t'onClti/drt'n'sDi~'orct'Ad- :~.~~~:'Jar6tlnml,~AM.PsYCHOLOGIST856(1981L-~~~reE.G,VISHEIt"J.S,V!SHEIl.STEP-FAMILIES:MYTHS",NDREALITIES"'...,;.), ~~!"". ~> ~ ! ~-'- ~i',-'~"..---..- ~'P:,".'"'-.-::-' J7 18PROBATELA"'JOURNAL.[Vol.4:17anenvironmentv.herebothmothersandfathersworkGndcareforthechildrencmayhaveaneasiertir.;eadjustingtosir.1ilarchangesinherlife. 5econd.supportsystemssu:hascounseling.vocational.em~ioymc:ntandfinancialassistanceandchild-GHeprogramsarecr.JciaJtothechilc.sabilitytocop~withrost-di~orcefamilylife. Thirdisthechild'sinteractionwithinthefamily.Parents'stressatthetimeofdivo!"ceisfrequentlyaddedtothechild'sowpburden.' Fourihisthechiid.sowncapadtytotolerCitethechangesfunGaiTlentaltodivorce.Immaturepsychologicalstructures~ndfunctioningcomplicatethechild'sabilitytounderstandGndcopev,;ththelengthyanddifficultdivorc::/' process.tDivorceisacrisis.Interventionearlyintheprocessminimiz.esstress. protectsthevulnerablepartiesandencouragt;Seffectiverestructuringofthefamily.Thee2riierthecrisisisat1end~dto.th~morepliablethefamilystructuresandthe!;Teaterthelikelihoodofaneffectivelong-rangeresolu- tion.Thedisruptionsinherentindivorceandthen~wlyreconstitu:edfamilyimpactallmembersofth~family,Thechild.sownpsychoJC'gicalstate. whichisrelated10developm~malSt2g~.isofsupremeirnponance.\\'eknowthatsomechildrenadjust~tterthandooth~rs.Thecompiexityofthefactorsinvolvedsho"Jjdnotdeterjudgesfromat~endingtotheveryimpor- tantneedsofthechild.Judgesmustund~rsta.ndthechild.sneeds.andfonnulatecustodydecisionsbasedontheevolutionoftheseneedsoverthelifetimeofthechild. II.AREBUTIABLEPRESUMPTJO"OFJOIt'TCUSTODYProbatecourts,shouldproceedincustodymattersonarebuttablepre- sumptionthatjointct;stodyismostdesirableforchildrenaIJdparentsunlesscontraryevidenceispresented. Arebunllblepresumptionattheexpartestageof}ega!proceedingsofjointcustody.atle,stuntilthehearingonthemerits.encouragesthepaniesinvoh'ed10developn~wfd..rnilyconstdlationswhicharein.thetoestinterestsofthechild.'Itprovidesflexibilityforallm::n~rsofthereco;:stitutingfamily.atatimewhenpost-divorcefamilystructuresarenotyetsolidlyinplace.Arebuttablepresumptioninfavoroijointcustodypermitsthecourttoshort-circuitthedekleriousandalltoocommonp;-acticeofparentsusing~ custodyasabargainingtool.Thepar:iesaregivensomecontrolz..ndi~putintothed~c:sion.therebyIninimi2ip.g2..fl:UIT:tntsanddctoxifyi~&angeri~the~ ~s~~A.G.KAPLA~&.M.A.SEDsn'.PsYCHOLOGYA~DSD;.ROLES:A~A~- DROG,\'NOL'SPERSPE:CTfvE(1980)~BeIT..So:ROlfAdap:aoiiiry:On("CC~SFqlH""Cf"offJ,w"hoJogicalAnarOK.w,.\'.31J.PERSO~ALIT'&..SoC.Ps"'C!iOLOG\t~4(1975>- .Sl'~J,\\/...LL[RST[l~&.J.KELlY.SL'RVIVl~GTHEBREA)';ur:1-io~CHI:"DRE... ASDPAREt-OT5COPEWITHDiVORCE{19801rr.~T~inafterci!~casSL:h\'1\'P,;GTHEBR!:AIo:UPj:\\"eiss.ern",'in$!UpQLJ1r/(F(H/t"r:Th~E.:r.pt"nrnct'ojGreanr.,::CT'inQSinf:/t'-PQrrnrHoltj("hoJd.3~J.Soc.ISSLTS97(]979L )98:!JJOJ!\'TCUSTODYcourtroom.Becausethepartieshavesuchinput.eachisbetterabletoacceptandabidebytheultimatejudicialdecision,withless~ncorandincreasedadherencetosupponandvisitationorders.- Thereexistsnoacc~ptedlegaldefinitionforjointcustody.Thetermhasbeenusedtodescribea~'idevarietyofsituations.'andresultsinnounifo~ applicationintheJaw.orsinglefamiliaJconsteIlationwhensuchaw?rdismade.'Theconfusionthataboundsregardingk'harirmeansismuchoftheprobJemandcreatesanemationalclimatefraught""-ithdifficulties. Despitethehistoricalconfusion.misund~rstc.ndin£.andn~~ativeconnota- tionsassociatedwiththet:rrn'jointcustody,'thisauthorbelievesthatthetermissuUthemostaccuratedescriptionofthephenomenon.Theterm\1.;11beusedtodescribemutual.ongoingaccesstoandresponsibilityandin- volvementindecisio;]-makingwithregardtoth:child.Jtin:iudes.butisnotlimitedto.'jointIe~alcustody.'JointcustodystronglysuggestsparentaJsharingofresponsib~Etiesto"'\'ard.andtimewith.theirchi,d.SpeciJlcphysi- calaspectsofcustody.indudingresidenceandvisitation.areindividuallytajloredtotheneedsofthefamilyinquestion.Theemphasisisoncontinuingmother-dllldandfather-cruldrdationshipsin2meaninfiulfashion. Correctlyunderstood2ndapplied.jointcustodyisth~mosteffi:a:iouscustodypresumptionatthetemporaryorderst2ge.Uponfirstfilingfordivorce.parentswouidbeencouragedthro~ghthecourtandtheirattor7ieystonegotiatefutureparent-childphysicalinteraction.Bothparentswouidbeinvolvedinnegotiatingworkableag;eemelitsregardingmajoraspectsofthechild'slife:e.g..schooling.heaJthcare.andday-to-daya:tivitjes.wi~hth~ helpofaaorneysand/ormentalhealthprofessionals.Physi::aJcustodymightinfactresideinoneparent.but.bothparentswouldbein...'oJvedinthisdecision.andwould~encouragedtomaintainclose,flexibletieswiththeirchild.... Attheexpartestage.thepresumptionwould~thatbothpareniS"'~shtobedeeplyinvolvedv.;ththeirchild.Atthispoint,theywouldbeencour4edtoworkoutafeasible.detailedchildcareplan.Theinterim~tweenthefirst..z:pp---8IGJ}ceiDcounandth~judge'sfinaldecisionwoulds~rveasatria! f~~~P:riodforimplementationoftheparents.plan.theoutcomeofwhichthe"0:~ewouldevaluatepriortothefinaldecree.9First,thiswouJdsuppon{<,,'o.'~JY-'.J'C:ntsiDshari~responsibilityfortheirchild.unli~e.thetemporarycustodyt\,.-'-~mentwh.ichf2\'orsoneparentpredeternurungthefinaloutcome. .-::-Second,itwouJd~ncourageparentstonegotiatesolutionstodiffl:rences, .~. '..,..:".S~~Miner.JointCustody.13FAM.L.Q.34.5.359(1979). .,,,:..'"'S~~Doddv.Dodd.93Misc.2d641.4Q3N.Y.S.2d401(Sup.a.1978).c:itt'din.o.~..IuprcDote7,&1359." :)~:4tSuRrponoftbeS~;8.'iCommissiononProbat:andFamilyCounPro~edu~s.:~;~~1.EdwudJ.KiPi.Governor,HonorableAlfredL.Podolski.Chajrman. h"'~~bleSheilaE.McGovern.ChaiiUUinoftheSu~Comnutte~onChildCustody.~~ercitedasGo"ernor"sCommissIOnReponi. ~ ".. 19(- 20PROBA.TEL4WJOUR/vAL[Vol.4:17andthird.itwouldpro\,jd~thejud£~\I.'ithdatatoascertcUn2.nyreasonstorebuttherr~sumptionofjointcustodyinaspecificcase.loTh,=judgecanevaluatehowwellthepartiesdowiththeshared-parentingafTangementbetweentheexpartestageandthefina~decision.andformulatea'judgmentbasedonthisdataandjudiciaJexperience.11Suffi~icntgroundsforrebuttingthepresumptionv,'oulJb~demonstra1edwhentheparLiesareunabletoagreeonorabidebyaworl-irlgp!an.orwhenCinepd.:-cntisneglectful.absentorabusive. ItisincreasinglyappCirentfromtheres~archdatathetjcintc~stodyworks.~ Itkeepsfamili~soutofcou:1bYIii1rum.:zingreli!ipltiop.i:~~~:ldr.:a.1;,imizingcourt-mandatedsupportpayments.l)1~m1Tii;nizesf:imiha~c:srJj)lionbyaI1owinginterestedparenlstorr.allltaind:ce5~toth~irchiJci.142ndre~~ctstheincreasingnumbero!mothers',,;,'howorkoUlsidethei1C'~:=and[ath::rswhopanicipateactivelyinch;!drearing.1~~~ostiP.1;:,ortantly.jc.imcustodyassiststhechild'she~l:i:ypsychoJoglcaladjustmentbyC:1:our3;jngtheongoingmaintenanceoftwocruciaJpsychologicalrclaticn~jlips:mmhf:fandchijd.andfatherandchiJd.16' Thepsychologicalevidencepointsoverv.'helrn.inglytowardthesuperiorityofjoir.tcl!stodyoversclecustodyinmostinstances,17desp~l=thefa~tthatit.10Unlikemc.ndalOr,'jointcustody.arebuaablepresumption:ilio'-'sthejudgetomakeindividuallyyiablede.:ision~basedonanumberoff(tctorsol!tlinedinthisanicle.MandaiOryjointcuswdydoesDOLtc.J...ethe~efactorssufficirnt!yintcaCCc:unl. IISet'S.LM(GovER~.A~ATOMYOFACL'SiODYDECISIO!'.(Sept.4,1980) (unpublishedmanuscript!. 12See!!fr.cro.lhIlfdd.IJfeJd&.Akxander.DOe!JDin!CustodWnrl.'AFirstLao/..otOutc{)mcDataof...Rf'JiIi;:a:ion.AM.J.PsYCHIA.TRY.Jan.198:.216:. 13Set'~t'neral!yFolberg.&.Graham.JointCustocyofCJ-.:'ldrenFC'lia",'in,::Dj\(/rrl'~ 12V.C.D.L.RE\'..5::3(19791:Lu~pnitz.PhiladelphiaChildGuide,iceClmicStud." MARRl.o\GE&.DIVORCETODAY,May4,1981.at3. ,.Sn'P.""OOlLEY.THECL'STODYHA""DBOO~(1979):K~ny&.\\'a1lerst~in. P~rt-.Timt'Pilrenl.Pilrr-Tim!'Child:\'isiting.A.ftnDi\orct'.6J.CLl~.PsYCHOLOGY5Jmkno\Otir.g"whatmotherd~s"and"whatfatherdoes,"Thechild'sthirstforknowledge!eadstocontinuousquestion-asking;thechildwithaccesstobothparentsb:nefitsgreatlyfromtheircombined~sources. JOiJltcustodyprovideschildrenwithclarityontheSt2tusofth~fa.rniJy,sotheycandis~nce..themsdves~noughtogetonwiththeworkofthisperiod: life\;ith~ers,Thechildwhoworriesaboutthesolecustodian~sfinances, th~non-:cu~todiclp2.:er.(slor.::I~n::ss~ndt~einse~urityof"isitaiionofienk. ~com:sd:pressedandhasahardtImedlsengagtngfromthefanuiyand2.Cquiringage-appropriatephysical.emotional,social.andintellecluaJskills. (15.:pressionrelatedtodivorceisfrequentlyexemplifiedbythechilddOi~ L.e.oor)yinschoolorma.nifestinganti-socia]b:havior. Duringtheadolescentyears(approximately11-18+),thechild'smaintasksartadaptationtochangeinrelationshiptothebody/4.topai~nts.&DdtocODtemporaries.%!Theadolescentstruggles,onenyjo}=ntlyandemotion-..~.:.-- \ \ \ nSri'gt'nrTall'yMichaels.HOM'doPrnchoo/Chi/dunp{"r,t"it.'"The;rMiningFalnt'rs?MAJUtIAGl&DIVORCEToo...\".Dec.14.1981.at2.Michaelsstudied96five-andsix-year-oldblack,while.andHispanicchil~renwho~fatherslefthomebeforethechildrenYo'erethree.Fony-sixpercentoftnec.hiJdren'sfantasiesincludedthe~ther:.-i3percentthemother.Thou1!hthe:fatherwasphysicallyI!bscnl.thechildrenspentmuchtimepreoccupiedwithhissyr.-.bolicimage.Thechild;er..despitemother'sreprest:ntationsorprevioush~stor)".50U{:t1ttopre~rvethe"f-(~father" ~c.thou~h8.6percentofthefantasieschA.~cten2edfathersasouthoritarian. withd:awin~.dt:pressed.or~ressjvc..).Sf'/'P.BLOS.0..ADOLESCENCE:APs\THOAp.,jAlYTIClSTERPRETATIOS(196~)' 2!Laufer.p,~,.t"nt;"t'Inlrn.,.n1iollillAJ"J~jn'IU.(..30T:uPs\THOANAlYTICSTUDYOFTHECHILDSJl.5tJ-28(1975). I, . i~< M.~r81=. (is%J~A-T104-e.It.. 124PROBATELA"'JOURl'l/AL[Vol.4:17ally.tobecomeir.dependent.InordertocompktethisstruggleeffectivelyandemergeintoaduJthood.theadolescentnee-cisto~truggjewitheachparent.Adolescentsplacedinsolecustodyfrequentlyyearntomoveinwiththenon-custodialparentduri:1gthistime.Thoughoneparentmaybe~tteratcopingwiththemyriadcrisesofad~Je'scence.thenatureofther-eriod-E-- strot1glypointstotheefficacyofaccesstobothmotherandfather.Thoughtheadolescentinjointcustodyr.1ayinfactr~sidewithoneortheotherparent.thefactthatbothparentsa:eactivelyinvo!vedinthedailylifeandmajordecisionsofthatchildcaneiiminateorminimizethepracticecommontoallteenagers:rittingoneparentar;~nsttheoth~r.Clearly.suchanapprvachrequirespl":1rentstocommunicateabo~tthechildandcnderstandtheturbulent.dem2.ndin~natureofthecrisestypi~a1ofthisperiod. Adolescenceisalsothest2geduringv;hichchildrenbegintopianfortheirownfuturere!atior.ships.understandingwhathappenedtothep~rents'marriagea!low5thei;1di\idualin~childtodifferentiate"whattheydid"from"whatIwil1do'"Emotionalseparationfromamother3ildfatheriseasierwhenparentsArerealf..ndinvohed.~therthandistantf2ntCiS!~s. Children'sneedsc~angeastheygrowup.Thejoint-custody,post-divorcefamilyisthemostv:2bJeo;nion[Oia~sjstingthechildtogrowinash~althyawayaspossible.ItiscO!!St2nt,if!sofarasitrecofnizestheimponanceofmotherandf2therforthechi]d'sheahhypsychoiogicaJdevel0pment.yetflexible.inthatitallowsthepreciseamountandkindofaCCf:SStoandinteractionv,-jththechijdn~ededatthevariousdeve]0pmentalstages. ItisafaJlacythatoneparentwillceasetobeimpor~ntinthechild'slifeshouldsolecustodybeawardedtotheetherpar~nt.~6Thechild'sfantasies~ ;aboutthe2.b~entp2.I-entcanbedamagingfarbeyondthere2.Jityofthat"pare:1fsshonc°rWngs.D=parturefromhomen~verabrogatesparenthood~fortheparent:;orth~child.lThechildwhohas"Jost"aparentmay~comedepressedoranm'attheNparentwhohasleft.Thisisfrequentlytakenoutonthecustodialparent.withemotionallydisastrousresultsforthatparentandthechild.AJterr.ative}y. thechildmaygiorifythemissingpArentinpreoccupyingfantasy,21.ThesefantasiescanbeputintoperspectivewhenbOihparentsremain\ activelyinvolvedinthelifeoftheirchild~abs~ntparent!softenworsethananimperfectparenTIAchild.d~privedofongoingconuctwithan,2b5~ntparent.mayexperienceanespeciallytryingtimeseparati:1gfromthat~ parentandreachingpsychologicaliJ1atUrBtion. nSr~grn('TallyGrief.Fath,r:;.Chi/drt'n&JointCU$lody.49AM.J.ORTHO- PSYCHiATRY311(19791:Kushn=r.supranCtte16;uxier.Hnu'10P't"~'f'nt""egati." EffrctS{)fFarhuAbSt'ncr.MARRJAGE.&.I;>IVORCETOOA\.Jan.4.198~.al~:E.Q. Pojman.EmotionalAdjustrn:::nlofBeysinSoleCustoCya,ndJointCU5tC::1yDivorcesCompo~d\oOithAdjustmentofBoysir,Happy2ndUntu1ppyMania;es(Juh"1981) (unpublisheddocto;-a)di~s~!'!2tion.CaliforniaGraduatelnSll1uteL:~SC('E.An~l~&:E.RVBII'Ii.Jupranot~11. %IMichaet~.supranot~23. -,.~~- 71: 1982]JOINTCUSTODYInaddition,jointcustodymayrc:Iievethecom:nonchildhoodfantasythatthechildistoblameforthedepar1ureofoneparent.ChiJdrencanseethatmotherandfatherdoinfactcontinu~toexistandtolovethem. Theturmoilofdivorcedepriveschildrenofthefamilystructureuponwhichthey.depend.Exceptinthemostextremecasesofabuseorneglect, t.hepre-divorcefamiJywas,forthechild,tangibleandassumed.Eveninless-than-optimalpre-divorcefamiliesthereexistedforthechildaworldaboutwhichtheruleswereknown,thecharac1ersre1ariyeJystable.andtheemotionaJandphysicalc1imatedependable.\Vithdivorce,thechild'severy- dayworldchailgesenormously.Eventhoughthedivorcemightbringposi- li,'echange(relieffromthreats.stab:Jityofcare),changeisstressfulandisalwaysexperiencedasaJass.Losing~ometbng"bad"maypro.\-,jderelief, butitma)'alsorermndthechildofthegoodthingsshemayormayDothavehad.Lossofsomething"good"canbeexperiencedasunfair,incomprehen- sible.Jadenwithguilt.etc..dependingonthedevelopmentalstageandpsychologicalmc.keupofthechild. Atatimewhenthechildautomaticallyexperienceschangeanditsatten- dantJossandmourning.itisundulycrueltoremovefromthechildthesupportofaparentv..ithwhomarelationshiphasbeen.andcanCOr.tLiluetobe,nUI1uring.Parentir:gwhichcontinuescJlerdivorceoffersthechild~omehopeforthefuture,andsomeconstantinthepresent. B.ComponenT2:The.'tociologicalcomponenTDivorceoccurswi!hinasocialcontextwhichhasbeenchangjng.Divorce~ ismorecommor.today,asisth:invo]vf:mentofmeninday-to-dayparentingc.nd""omenincareers.\\'hatworksforthefamilyoftodayisthepiesump- tionofjointcustody:onlyjo:nlcustodydealswiththesignificantsociologi- calchangesinarr.ann~rhelpful1'oallmembersofthereconstitut~dfamily. Di~ruptjonofastrongpsychologicalbondb:tweenparentandcr...ildis~ rn,predckterioustochild,parent.andcon~quf.ntlytotheentirefaIniJysystem.thandisruptionofplaceortime..ThephysicaJchangesthatinvari- ablyoccurfollowingaci\'orce~ha.ngeoffamilyfinances.home,B.ndschooJ-arenotn:arJyasdetrimentalasthelossofab:lovedfamily~ member. Th~~eedsoftr.Jthpcrentsandthdrex~ri~nceofthedivorceandpost- dj\'orc~r~riods,impactonthechiJd,Thvorce1.al~esitstollinmanyways. Financialconcernsaffectallmanncrofintra-fz.miliaJagreementsandfeel- ings.Thcparent\I:hohasto$UPP°r1thechildfinancia:lyoftenfec=isangryL\;:h=ndeniedaccesstoanddecision-makingpowerre&ardingthatchild.The"'- resultsartoftennonpaymentofsupport,~9kidna.ringofth~child.cO:71plete~R.SA~DEJ'5.CHILDSL'PPOInA~DAUMOt-:Y23'CU.S.C~nsus'BureauS~cialStudies!>~r.P.:3No.ll~.19781.Thisprobi~mhas~corn~scpronour;ced~hatonlyh2Jfoftht'&O7t('Ifwom~na\\'2rd~dchildsuppon(about3/5ofthos~v.;thsol~ custody)tverrcc~ivep2ymenb. 25r 26PROEATELAWJOURlvAL[Vol.4:17severanceofre1aI:ons.hip\.\-;ththechHd,aridconstantangerandr~se~1tment. whichinturnaffectthechild. AtatimewhenchiJdrenneedmoresupport.solccu~tocydeprivesth~mofhalftheirviablesu;>portsystem.Parentsatthistim~needtoretainsome~embbnceoffa~!1y.toremaininvolvedwiththeirchild.a:ldto"\I.';n.'incourtwhilethey2relosingtheirhistoricalfarml}'.Byencou;-agingo~goingparenting.jointc!:s:odyputstheneedsofthechildbeforethescInshneedsoftheparent.Thepresumptionofjointcust~dyenablespo.rentstoworkoutguideJine~tog~theTforhow10co-parentinthisnewW2)')0andg~t(\n\\lththeb~sifj=ssofr.:s:mcturingth~farmly. ThereisaclearquaIitalivedistinction~t'.1{eenjointcustvGYandsolecustodywithlibe:.~lvisitation.Onlytheformerinvolvesactiveand~har~dparticipationanddecisio!1-makingofbothparents..!IThatmothersandfathersincreasingJ)'desiresuchparticipation,andthatthechildbenefitsfromthisirlvcj\'=ITI~nlsosifnincantly,lendsstrongsupporttoth~jointcustodypresumpt;cn. ~ f-- C.Component3:ThecO:Jrtsysle'!1T!.eadver;aria!~pp;-oach10custodystill"IilizedinsolPeCC"I1~noloJ'Jy)deniesthepsych:--logi.:aIC2~.but,further.taxesthecourtsystemitself. CU~iS'dydisput~s~r=flotweB-suiledtoresolution~s~donmabngunel:ar~n:the"good--one.t~eotherthe"bad"one.Thecourlsystemas,,"eU~Sfamilymemb~Tsloseinthiskindofreckorung.Custodylitigationistir.1~-consuming,c)';p~fasjve,posesp;-objemsforjudgesGDCa~iOITleyslackin~ ~dequatepsydJoJogicaJexp~r1jsea.ndtraininginchi}d-;cl~tedmatters,andfrequentlyexa~f:~2.!esratherthansolvesthefami!y'sconfii.::ts. Thechild,havin~2.lretidylosttoilenuckarfamily.needno:furtherloseon: parent.Similarly,parentalrightscatJberetainedatatimewhenparentsarelosiilfc{\Ti1ro!.ec-CJ~0~,jCslr.:-ngth.hndawayoflife.Divorces:gnalsthecndL- ofS~OU5:a1.notp2:~n~,rights!andthecourtshouldj!1terv~nejudiciously" ~nd~ShttJeasn~~~saryinfamilymatters.Thereisnopossibilityofthecoui1pvingchi1~t';nthe"resC'family,o;-JythefaIn.ilywithwhichiheymustlive.Jointcustodyprovideseachfamilymemb:r'withaviable.tangiblegain.!'omemeas~ofimportance.Andcomrru1menttotheneWlYrestru.:- luredf~Jy.Byp;-o\'idingthesethingstofamilymembers,thecourt~ffec- livelydownplaystl-Jeconfi)ctthefamilybringsintothecourtsys!em-,spari~ e\'r:ryun~involvedtimeandeffon.' Theissueofju~cia}economy~com~ssalientwhenthecostto!h~counsof~litjgationis12.kenintoaccount.Recentres~archbyapsy.:hia.trist. therapist,andatt.crneyprovidesempiricaldata.b,!sedon414consecutivecustooycasesov~ralWO-:-Yc:.arperiod.th::lt,parcntsjnitiany@Antede;;:dusiv~ custodyret~rnedtocourttwiceasfrequently~sparents~ntedjointcus-~ 11;- ! )0SuGo\'~rnor'sCommissionR~p(iJ1.slipranote9. )1Mi11:r.supratWIt7.at361. 1982]JO1NTCUSTODYtod)'.32Thediscordantprocessinh~rentl;}courtlitigationhasseveread- verseeffectsonpar~nts.theirparenting,andtheirchiJdren.))Thecourtispoorlystructuredto!:ope\\liththekindofemotionaltraumaandnegouationnecessaryforrestruc~uringthefamiiy.Bydiscouragingnegotiation,becausetherehasbeentradition21lylitHeplaceforitwithinthecourtsystem.thefamilyisfr=quentJygranledbutafewminutesbeforeajudgeatt~P.1pli!lgtodecidethecustocfialfutureofthechiJdandthefamHy.ItisnowondcrthatsuchC2sesfrequ~ntlyreturntocourt. Ifjointcustodyispresumedatth~tempor2.~Yorderstage,anum~rofthesedifficulties2"Cdiminishedforth~court.n,ejudgenoJODzer~eedstodecidehastily,ontn:basisoflittleinfoml~tionand]~sstime,towhomtoawardcustody.ThepaJ1.jescanmaintainsomesemb1anceofcontrolregard. ingaccesstothechild,therebyapproachingsettlementofotheras~ct~oithedivorcefromamorema.turestance.\\nereparentscanbeencouragedbytheCOUr1toviewcustodyasrhenegotiationoflime-shQring,rc.therthanasapowerstruggle.th~restructun:1gofthefaIniiycanbeet:ec~edmorereadily, withoutn:cour5e10protJCictcd2.ndrecurrentcourtbattles. Bythetimeacustodyc~sereac~esthecourtsystemt.h:rar~ilyha~ ~enr.ra1JygonethroughIn5.i1YreadjustmentsandJosses.Th:soc-r;~rpa~entsareencouragedtoL;,jnkaboutthewelJ-beingoftheirchild.tcJ:ing!h~fe=!JsAwayfromtheiro~'-nJossesandfec:!ingsandPU!Ui1gthefo:u~Ci:ill.er:~tdsofthechild,thebetterforthatchild.\Vhenthechnd'sfuture:b3Snotb~ensettledbytheparerats'actions(e.g.,~b2..ndonr.lent,,buse),tl-J~pa.;:nts'fight.:.'-forcontrolcanbeundercutbyprovidingth:mwithafram~wcrk\;1jthind'..whichtoLego!iatedecisi::>nsvis-a-visthechild. E~~Readungparen~.sb~forecustodyz.rnmgem=ntshavesoJicifi:dfnC,'.'~the!:':countomakeaITI3.jordiff~renceinthefamily'~outcome.Thisne.edstob: :-~..doneatthefirstentryintoth~.court~ystem,and\'~1th!ss~stancefromf~..:membersofthec~..:n,attcmeys,andr.1::ntaJh:2Jthprofcssjon:Js.P:::::ntsi::"canbegiven\'isuaJcmd",,'Tiaenmaleri~sandinstructiontofuidethem~~~'thI?ughmajor2JC2.$o~~os~ibl~contentj~n:e.~.,religjousu~brin~~g,~du- ~';-'-',~1.Jon,daY-io-daydecls!onmz.hng,b211dlmgcns::s,andfutureCOILTlICtreso- ~~~ . :.:~.lution.J~I.nmostinst..ancc:s~e\'cn~jt:h1yli~gjousparents.can~tTC.~onsomer~~~..~.Thiscancom~asqwteareliefataI1mewh~.npartJestcndtofo=us~nI:.:t:.,differen=-esrath:rthan~~c:m:ntUldcan1=a.dtom:r~asedconcordanceIn'-~"relatedareas.Byshiftingth:focus.partiesb:gintoDegotiateth:irown~.-workingr.greemen!.s.Th~s=agreementsa.remorelikdytoi1.:ri!i&invicb1e~~~.~' --g.:-nmeld,DfeJd&..fJ:x::n:!:r.JuprQnot:12. ,..J~~~"JJ.GolDSTEIN.A,FREUD&:A.SoLNIT.supranoteJ9. '4£:"..SttGo~ernor.sCvmrni~sic.r.Report.SUP;Qnote9~AtlorntysJE.ntCoher.and~:~Pea.."'SonofB~cn.AssistAntChie;fProba~or.OfficerHiUT)'Somersofthe,~\i.-!JddJe!>elPIoba1el:..Fa~J)yCOiJn.arid~sycholc;;istDr.Marun?otLsnofBo~to[) .~~~~~haye~~nirIStrum':!1taJinodincati~lh~s~cifici5SU:Swithwh:::hsu==ess.fully~-~D:'iOUaUngf>C:.IentsQustp-appl~intheCUS100}'~ettlemenl. t:lf.'. i~~:04- "~.'. ~.:;'. ~~.;: I~~ 27~ 28PROBATELAWJOURNAL[Vol.4:17sincetheparties..havingf1eJp~dtocreatethem.haveapersona]stakeintheiroutcome. Thecourt,v.ri!hthea:5si~tanceofprofessionrJs,canusetheworkingagreementofthepz.rtiesasabasisforformu!atingtheLnaJdecision.ThejudgeC~i1readily~scertainhowwentheparentshavemettheirownsh:u-ed~ parentinggoalsi'ltheperiodoftime~twcentheexpart~stageandthefinaljuc£ment.ThetrialperiodwouldaHowthejudgetogaugethelong-termefficnryofjoir:tc1.!stody.Th~issueofcU~lodyneLdno1beaddressedasquickly,saveintherel2tivelysmallnumberofobviouscasesrequiringimmediateatt~n~1on,~uchasabusearidne£}~ct. Formanyp~ents.theJ2beJoC"custodiaJparent"iscnlciaJforself- cstce~~ndcorttrol.Thecourt'sreco~n~tjonofthi~statuscaneffectivelyJessentheparties'Joss.saveface,andencourageongoingeCOGorrUcandemotionalrespot:sibilityforthechild.Thisisonelossthet:ourtcanprevent, atatimewhenthepartie~arelo;ing00manyfr~l1ts.Tnus.thecourtsupponshealthy.or-:gcingparenting.whichinturnrefocus~sth~after-di- vorcefc.milybackonitsown,ratherthanthecourt's,resources.J5\VhenparentsL:-af,theirownWOfyjngagreementsfor~h~ed-pa:-enting2ccordingtoclezranoexp11citguidelines.theCOiJrt'sinterv~i!tioncanbeIin-Jtedtoinsta~~eswherethep:.rtiesareatcompletekgg~;hc2ds,wh~reonepan)'dearlyviolatestheagre~ment,orwheretherei~abu~~and/orneglect. Duringtho:in!~rimstage,judgesshould~xpectparentalmoti\'ationtosucceedtobe&tjH~acme.\Vhereonepartyiscompletelyur.invol\'edorabus:\'~,eithertothechildorth~otherparent.thecourtcanintervenetopr{\tectth:childbyplacementinsole.orotherappropriaie,custody. D.Component4:The;nleract;o,1alsY.f:lt:mTnefcar~manythoughtful&rguments~othforiindagainstjointcustody. Th~critica]j:Jdg~mustlook,dthewayinwhicha]}thesecomponentsrelatetoformaninleractionalsj'stem.. Thefollowingfa::torsueillustrativeofhowthein1ern::tionalsystemfunctionstoaffectthecourt.f3.I!'i}y,andchildreninvolved.ThepsycholoI;i- calstatesofmotherandfath~raffectthechiJd,justasthepsychologicalstateofthechildaffectstheparent~.FincnciaJconsiderationsimpactonthe:fz..milyandthecourt.Inlikefashion,parentalabilitytoreconciledifferences"affc:ctstheircourtc:ppea~nce.ThecourtbattleisdisruptiveofthefaIn.ily'sIsb:Ijtytore~troctureandg~tonwjthliving.Reliti,ga;.ionburdensthecoun's\ timeandper50onr:~lGJJ~ationsandchangingsocialnormsaffecttheflimilya..'1dthecourt. .Onlyby\'ie\\~n;.t~~:s5ueofc~stodYfromah.o~istjcperspectivec;~n~~ JudgerenderaJ:Jdl~10US,workabiecustodydecIsIon.Thepresumptionofjointct!stodyatth~ter.1pof4f}'orderst.2.geo~ersthemostcompJete2.nd)~rd. 3 1982]JOINTCUSTODY29i,nfonncdalternative.Itt2kc5intoaccountth~needsofchildrenatdifferentdevtJopmentalstages.CO:JfJ]cd\::iththeiras~onedemotionalundintcIlectualresources.It!'peaks10par(nts'desiresforaccesstotheirchildandneedforsomecontro;at2limeofmaritaldissolution.Thepresumptionadcress~schangingsoci~talnonr.s'\~'hichpointfirmlytowardaniIlcre,}singmix!ureof"family"and"work"inthelifeuf~duhsofbothsexes.It~niinjzesdemands'onthecoun~..h;chthecO4rtisonlypaniaBytrainedandabletohiindleeffectjv~Jy.giveneduc~tioi1al.time,andbucgetaT)'constra~nts.)6\\'eiss.sinterviewsofISOdivo;-cedwomcn2ndmenrevealedthat.evenwhenlovefeelingshaddis~prearedandaJttITJativercIationshipshad~encst2b]ished.strong2ttd~hm:ntsrem2inedb::tv:cenformerspOUSCS.37ThecuuT1canstimulatethefocusoftheseart~:hm~ntstowardongoing,sharedresponsibilityforandp.c.re!1tiDgofthech;!dofdivorce. IV.SUM~1_A,.RYASDCONCLUSIOr-:SAholisticperspecti\erequiresthatfourmajor!'ac1orsbetakenintoaccountwheneverac:Jstodyd~terminalionmustb~madeasaresultofdjv(\Jc~.Thefactors2r~thepsycholo~ica!hraithofthechild.thesocioJogi- calcontextinwhi:h1h~childa.,..,dpost-divorcef~~lylive.th~effectofthecustodyprocessandO:1~COfi1eonthecourt.andtheinleT2ctjona~s)'s!emwherebytb::s~[dctors;-:Si~cton~another.On1ybyconsidc'i;:gall01thesevariQ~]escanthey;-oL~teandfa:nilyCOLH"ljudgemattthe.appr-opriZltecustodyd~term.ini3tion. Sharedparcmil1gwilhrflUtua]T('~po:1sibi!ity-jojntcustody-isinthe~stinler~stsoftb~child,p-3rerns.so:ietv.ar.dlheCOU"s\'slem.ArebuttablepresumptionofjointC'T$!(.dyatthttewporc.ryorders1.afe::ncoura~esthep2J1iestoworktowa.rdtheb~stpossibksolutiontoadL.&ficuJtissue:aCU5tom-mad~sh2reo-pa..entingagi"tement.Judges2ieprovid~dwithd2tabywhi~h10eVi11u2tethe~'0JkQDilityofparenT-negoLiatedsharedresponsibilitycm-~ngemcnls.Th:co::r!prcrnot~sthemostpsychoJogjcallysoundandr~sibl~custodyapproe:.dJforaUconc,m:catthtmostadvantzge:oustime: ,",'bjlestructuresarestillup::nton::goti2tionandchange,and~forethepmics2~~Um~recaJcit!7.Ji!positions. By]Jresumi>;gjointCU$todyzs~arly2~possibJ:.inthecourtproces~, panies~imp:lJedtoattendtothechi!crsn~eds.therebyencourc.gingmatureb~havior2ndu~~oursingdi".is!vc,chi!dish"-Onnicl.TheCDuiicanl'aSsisttheparentsinse:::]ingL'1~jrowndiS2grccm::ntsbypro".jdingacontextfornegoDationandh::;pingtomoldspecificchild-centeredjointcustody~r(;em:nts.AlI'J';in&r~r~n~stohe.\'«:som:inputintothek)f'~-t::nncusta-:!yarT"'W1gementislikely10resuhinthe:parentsabidingbytheultimat:judicialdecision. "«"--I-lIce1~~ f'" ;~ IIII30PROBATELAWJOURJ\'A.L[Vol.4:17The{;rcsu!11ptionofj0:ntcustodyatthetemporaryorderstagekstad- dr~5sesthemu!tifi1ctoriaJissuec~custody.Then~rroVt'Ukstinte'i'cf.ts". testrrovidesforbu~oneorc.nothcrofthepersousinvoJve'd,whereastheI~res1}mptionofjoin:custody~.nOW5foranir..formcd~dw()rr.abledecisionwhich~.;nploysa~Gj)histicatedappro~chtoacccmntforttltneedsofallpartiesinvolvedghcnahif,h1yc0mp:ex~iluatjon. / .. I