———PARENTING ———
Joint custody benefits Kids {

THESE days, many
fathers take an active
interest in raising their
children, even after their
marriage breaks down.

Ther don’t want to be just
Part-tume caregivers.

Shared custody can be
Appropnate if WO tests are
met. First. is it in the child’s
best interests, tor example, will
the child benetit from ongoing
contract with both parents?

Second. do the parents
cooperate sufficiently to make
a shared custody arrangement
workabh

There is no precise detini-
tien of “joint custody.” Many
different arrangements are
possible.

For example, when Marnie
and Gary Speck quarreiled
over the custody of their
seven-year-old son, Cole, the
court ordered this joint cus-
tody arrangement: the first
week, Cole would ve with his
mother Monday to Thursday
and with his father Friday to
Sunday. The second week,
he'd live with his mother
Tuesday to Thursday and with
his father Friday to Monday.

An important factor was
that the family lived close to
each other in a small town,
Alert Bay.

A difterent arrangement
was ordered for Judy and
Joseph Simon, who lived in
Courtenay with their seven-
year-old son, Cady.

She was an ambulance

attendant and camp cook who
worked out of town during
the summer fogging season.
After they separated, Cody
lived with his mother. but
staved with his father whenev
er Judy was awav.

A vear after they separated,
however, Joseph moved in
with another woman, and ten-
sions began to mount between
Judy and Joseph.

The judge said that where
both parents provide loving
care fer their child, who is
happy with both parents, and
the parents have previously
cooperated, they only need a
“nudge from the court” to
come to an arrangement
which will be best for the
child. He ordered both par-
ents to have joint care and
control over Cody, for exam:
ple, to have joint responsibility
for schooling and medical
care, But Cody would live
with his mother during the
week and his father on alter-
nating weekends. During the
summer, he'd live three weeks
with his mother and three
weeks with his father, and he'd
spend alternate Christmas and

spnng break vacanens vath
each parent.

Bruce and Karen
McCowan, whe fived a teow
Minutes apart in New
Wesuninster, had vet a ditter
ent order. Their bun boys
fined with Bruce about 43% ot
the ume, according to his
svork schedule with the
ROMP. The couri mereased
this time by one mere dav a
month. Phe court alse
ordered that all holidays were
to be snared. One parent
would hase che tans
Christmas Eve untl 2 pan. on
Chrsumas Day, at which ame
the other parent would have
them upp) 7 pam. on Boxing
Dav. On birthdays, the parent
whose home they were not fiv-
ing in that day could see or
have them tor three hours
from + p.m. to 8 pam.

“The children should have
meinories of shared special
days.” said the judge. “It will
be healthier for them if these
days do not emphasize a divid-
ed lite by being defined in ret-
rospect as separate.”

Certainly, if vou and your
Partner can work out an ami-
cable joint custody arrange-
ment with the help of your
lawyer, your children will reap
the benefits of your mutual
love and care.

This column bas been written
with Darvl Collier of the law
jirm of Ratcliff & Company,
The column provides informa-
tian only and must not be relied
on for leqal advice.

SOME BUNNY

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