Last week The Boston Globe published an editorial strongly in support of a proposal by the committee to review Massachusett's child custody laws that acknowledges that, in most circumstances, children benefit from significant time with both parents.
Child advocates say the changes would establish expectations for all
splitting families, and set the tone for settlement negotiations, by
prioritizing the well-being of children over the competing interests of
the parents.
Significantly, the proposal would change some of the adversarial
language that’s currently in state code, replacing “custody” with
“residential responsibility” and “decision-making responsibility,” and
replacing the loaded term “visitation” with the more neutral “parenting
time.” A new mission statement would state that significant time with
both parents, when possible, is ideal. And new language would suggest
that, when possible, children should spend at least one third of the
time with each parent. The guidelines are a way of acknowledging research that shows the value of quality time with both parents.
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