When disagreements arise regarding child custody and access arrangements, a family law lawyer can guide you through the negotiation process, represent your interests, and work towards solutions that prioritize the best interests of your children.
In Saskatchewan, there are various decision making and parenting options:
- Primary Care: One parent has the children most of the time and may have final say in parenting decisions.
- Decision Making: Both parents decide together, regardless of the child(ren)’s schedule. Or, one parent may have final say in decisions after consulting the other parent.
- Shared Parenting: Child(ren) spend time with both parents, either equally or close to equally. An alternating weekly schedule is common.
- Parenting Schedules: Any of a wide variety of schedules allocating the child(ren)’s time between parents. Typically, one parent will not have less than eight to ten days per month. Usually, school holidays are shared equally in a parenting schedule.
- Supervised Access: Visits monitored for safety, whether by a third party or in an institutional setting.
It’s important to note that the best child custody and access arrangement depends on the child’s best interests and the unique circumstances of the parents. Courts prioritize the child’s well-being and aim to ensure that both parents have meaningful relationships with their child, unless it’s not in the child’s best interests. Consulting with a family law lawyer can help you achieve the most suitable arrangement for your situation.
Recent changes to The Children’s Law Act and federal divorce law have (among other things) done away with terms such as “custody” although the term is used here because it is still familiar. These changes also include a presumption in favor of shared parenting or maximizing the child’s time with both parents. For specific advice concerning these changes and their potential effects on you and your children, a family law lawyer is an ideal resource.
Note: The information in this blog is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer for advice for your situation.