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→Parenting time
====Parenting time====
Orders for access are either of two types of order: interim orders and final orders. ''Interim orders'' are made before trial, and ''final orders'' are made either by a judge after trial or with the agreement of the parents without a trial.
=====Shared custody=====
Shared custody is a term used by the Federal [[Child Support Guidelines]] to describe a kind of joint custody situation in which the children spend an equal or almost equal amount of time with each parent. Where parents have shared custody, the children will usually spend a certain amount of time with one parent at that home and a similar amount of time with the other parent at their home. Shared custody can require that the children switch homes every three or four days, every other week, every two weeks, or every month; the amount of time the children spend with each parent will depend on the circumstances of each case, the age of the children, the parents' work schedules, and the schedules of the children's activities.
In many ways, this is an ideal form of custody since the children spend an equal amount of time with each parent, and have an equal opportunity to bond with each parent. Shared custody usually requires that:
*the parents live fairly close to one another,
*the parents have adequate communication skills with one another,
*both parents are able to put the children's needs ahead of their own,
*the children are old enough to be able to tolerate the disruption of living in two different homes, and
*the arrangement is in the best interests of the children.
Of course, there are downsides to this sort of order. The strain of communicating so frequently with the other spouse can be a bit of a burden; it can be costly to maintain a full set of clothing, shoes, toiletries, and supplies at each house; and, no matter what, the children are still moving from one house to another each week.
<span style="color:#D2691E">'''Important changes'''</span> <br />
As a result of the changes to the ''Divorce Act'', the language used in the Child Support Guidelines has also changed. "Shared custody" is now known as ''shared parenting time''.
=====Split custody=====
Split custody is a term used by the Federal [[Child Support Guidelines]] to describe a kind of parenting situation in which one or more of the children live mostly with each parent. The parents may have sole custody of the children in their care or they may have joint custody of all of the children, regardless of where the children live.
This is a fairly unusual order as it requires the separation of siblings and there is a risk that they may grow apart from each other as time passes. These sorts of orders are only made where there is clear evidence that it is in the best interests of all of the children to fracture the family unit, such as when the siblings are constantly fighting or at each other's throats, or when one child has a particular attachment to a parent not wholly shared by the other children. In such cases, a needs of the child assessment, prepared under section 211 of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', confirming that the children should be split apart is essential.
<span style="color:#D2691E">'''Important changes'''</span> <br />
As a result of the changes to the ''Divorce Act'', the language used in the Child Support Guidelines has also changed. "Split custody" is now known as ''split parenting time''.
<span style="color:#D2691E">'''Important changes'''</span> <br />