Shared Custody - Joint Physical Custody

[Leslie245]

My son's primary residence is his mother's house. I live 15 minutes from her house and 5 minutes from my 9 year old son's school. My son would like to come and live with me 2 weeks out of each month.

I 46, I have a home, my daughter from a previous marriage lives with me as well as my mother. I own my own business and am financially stable.

I have picked up a general application to file with the courts for shared custody. What type of supporting documentation do I need to include with my application to help me gain shared or joint physical custody?

[billm]

I am curious what your son's mother says about the idea...

[Leslie245]

She is not aware at this point that I am seaking joint shared custody but I am sure she will be opposed to the idea simply because support payments would stop.

[today]

How long has your current arrangemnet been in place?

[Leslie245]

The current arrangement has been in place for about a year.

[first timer]

If the arrangement for access is not already on a 2 week basis then try and get it arranged first with your ex. Once it is in place for at least 6 months to show that it is an acceptable arrangement to both parents then try to get it in writing, hopefully it will be a mutual agreement based on the past 6 months, however my experience has been the minute I wanted it in writing my ex said no. If this happens then file the papers in court, keep track of how you have been fulfilling the role of a parent for the past 6 months with a schedule of 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off (day to day activities and care of the child, homework, cooking, cleaning, school dropoff and pickup, doctor appt, dentist appt, parent-teacher interviews, etc). Good luck.