Myth related to divorce involves dads and child custody

During the process of dissolving a marriage in Massachusetts, seeking and receiving advice from family and friends may understandably be comforting. However, not all divorce advice — from advice about the marital home to advice about spousal support — is good advice. One myth in particular has to do with dads and child custody.

In many cases, the husband during a divorce ends up getting the short end of the stick, so to speak, when it comes to getting custody of the children. Mothers are often the ones who are granted physical custody of the children. This means the dads are often allowed to spend only every other weekend and only certain weeks in the summer with the children.

This myth likely comes from a time in the past when men were often the breadwinners and thus were working during the weekdays, meaning they had free time only on the weekends. The family dynamic is very different today, as it is now common for both parents to work. The reality is that, today, there is no certain quantity of time that each spouse spends with his or her children; this is fully up for negotiation.

The divorce process is naturally hard due to the challenges of separating two spouses’ financial and emotional lives for good. However, the children can also be affected by a divorce proceeding involving child custody. An attorney in Massachusetts may help to ensure that one’s rights are protected and that the children’s best interests are considered during this type of family law proceeding.

Source: huffingtonpost.com, “6 Prevalent Myths You’ll Hear About Divorce“, Andy Calloway, Aug. 9, 2017