Old model ye tha ki divorce ke baad ek parent – usually mother – ko custody mil jati thi, aur doosre ko weekend visits. Ab courts gradually joint custody aur shared parenting concepts explore kar rahe hain, specially jahan dono parents reasonably functional hain.
Joint custody ka matlab ye nahi ki child har din 50–50 ghar switch kare. Ye flexible arrangement ho sakta hai:
- Major decisions (education, medical, religion) jointly,
- Time split practical basis pe – weekdays ek parent, weekends doosra, vacations alternate,
- Video calls, festivals, aur school events shared.
Focus hota hai child ki emotional stability pe, na ki parent ka ego pe. Jahan high conflict, domestic violence, ya serious abuse ho, waha shared model bachche ke liye harmful ho sakta hai, isliye one-primarily-custodial parent + controlled visitation zyada safe rehta hai.
Law ka stance evolve ho raha hai: child ko dono parents ka active love aur presence milna best-case scenario maana ja raha hai, provided environment healthy ho. Parents ko bhi yeh accept karna padta hai ki “partner” end ho sakta hai, lekin “co-parent” role lifetime ka contract hota hai.
