When parents share joint custody of their children, they often argue about who should make even the smallest decisions regarding the kids. As was recently reported by E! Online, Halle Berry took her ex, Gabriel Aubry, to court alleging that he had been straightening and highlighting their 6-year-old daughter’s hair in an effort to make her appear “less African-American.” The judge ruled that neither parent should alter their daughter’s hair for the foreseeable future.
This case is just one example of how co-parents can disagree over decisions regarding their children. When it comes to decision-making, parents can either share legal custody or one parent can have sole legal custody. In New Jersey, however, there is a preference for parents to share legal custody, promoting the involvement of both parents in the life of the child. See Beck v. Beck, 86 N.J. 480 (1981). As was established in Beck, the parent designated as the parent of primary residence will make most of the day-to-day decisions regarding the children. For major decisions, which should be defined whenever possible, parents that share legal custody should make the decisions together.
When there is a disagreement, however, parties often turn to the courts to settle the dispute. If you have a custody dispute with your co-parent, the skilled attorneys at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri LLC can help resolve your dispute, whether that involves coming to an agreement with your co-parent or turning to the courts. Call us today at 973-274-5200.
