Undesignated Residence in Child Custody

You would probably be one of those parents who’s not completely settled on who gets your child and where he or she will live. Undesignated residence in child custody is a common problem in every separation or divorce. Largely, this problem deals with where the child will stay and who his or her primary care giver is going to be.

Deciding Who Gets The Child In Divorce: Undesignated Residence in Child Custody

Even if a married couple separates or chooses to go through a divorce, both individuals have to fulfill parental responsibilities for their children. Though the role of “spouse” or “partner” is eventually dissolved in separation and divorce, the role of “parent” is never completely gone. If the parents are unmarried and decide to break up, it is always the mother who gets custody of child in divorce or separation especially in undesignated residence in child custody.

This move has changed since year 2002 when unmarried fathers can now have a say in who gets custody of child in divorce. A father gains parental responsibility if he jointly registers the birth of his child with the mother – an act of proving parental responsibility in fatherhood. A father can also gain parental responsibility if, together with his former partner, he signs a Parental Responsibility Agreement. This agreement can be signed in any phase or time period of the relationship or in separation. This power can also be ordered by the court during and after separation and divorce.

Whether or not fathers have parental custody and responsibility, whether in undesignated residence in child custody or in the physical care of a child, fathers or noncustodian parents have the responsibility to financially cover and support their children.

Other than these, a statement of arrangements is usually filed after separation and divorce which suggests who gets custody of child in divorce or separation, where, which schools the children are going to attend, who visits them and how often, and who will care for them.

The divorce petitioner usually presents the statement of arrangements as a solution to undesignated residence in child custody to the other party in the spirit of good practice before it is submitted to the courts. The courts encourage both parents to compromise and set mutual goals in the physical care and legal decision-making of the children, among others.

Role of Mediators in Undesignated Residence In Child Custody

Mediators settle undesignated residence in child custody by facilitating or supervising sensitive issues especially those revolving around residences and time schedules. Mediators provide a structured constructive and organized environment for the parents of the child to look into possible options, concerns and alternatives that best benefit the child.

In keeping with the best interest of the child in undesignated residence in child custody, it is the mediator who helps parents determine solutions to finances, work schedules, living arrangements and etc.

To resolve undesignated residence in child custody, the courts, mediators and parents focus on the best interests of the child and what courses of action are directed to achieve this goals.