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Abstract: 

Shared parenting—also known as joint physical custody—was once a relatively uncommon parenting arrangement among divorcing couples. However, due to legal trends and social forces that have emerged over the past couple of decades, shared parenting has almost become normative as far as family court decision making. Although early studies once hailed shared parenting as the gold standard, in real life it is workable only for parents who get along extraordinarily well and freely opt for it; it is grossly unsuitable for situations where an abuser obtains an order for shared parenting against the objections of the other parent. In this article, adapted from the second edition of their landmark book, Representing the Domestic Violence Survivor, the authors articulate why shared parenting has grown to become so popular among judges, even for families affected by DV. The authors explicate the many reasons why shared parenting not only is not feasible under such circumstances but also, in many cases, poses severe risks for battered women and their children.

Keywords: Why Abusers Like Shared Parenting; Shared Custody; Using Expert Witnesses

Affiliations:  1: Attorney at Law; 2: Attorney at Law.