Parents often want to offer their families the best opportunities in life, which can mean that they need to maximize their earning potential. Parents may take jobs working second or third shift because of the pay differential offered.
They may step into positions where they have to frequently travel or are subject to a sporadic employment schedule because of the benefits or pay provided. When parents who travel for work, work late shifts or have unpredictable schedules face divorce, they often worry about losing custody of their children. Thankfully, it is fully possible for those with demanding careers to keep their jobs and maintain their parental rights.
Every custody arrangement is unique
There are countless ways for parents to establish a shared custody schedule. In some scenarios, parents who work particularly demanding jobs may need to accept less than a 50/50 split of parenting time because of how much they work and when they work. However, clever scheduling can make an even split of parenting time feasible even for those who work late nights or irregular schedules.
If a job requires flexibility regarding scheduling or regular travel, parents may need to include special terms in their custody arrangements. In addition to a standard schedule for the division of parenting time, they may also need to have rules in place for rescheduling based on travel requirements or unusual work schedules.
That way, a parent who cannot see their children as normal one week due to job obligations can make up that lost time in the future. It is often easiest to create workable custody plans by cooperating with a co-parent. However, family law judges can also establish custody orders that provide parents with unusually demanding work arrangements a reasonable share of parental rights and responsibilities.
Identifying priorities during custody negotiations can help parents focus on the big picture instead of getting bogged down in their emotional reactions. Parents with demanding careers often need to focus on maximizing their time with their children and ensuring flexibility in their custody orders. Those who have support as they approach contested custody matters may have a better chance of securing terms that work for them and their children.