Split Custody as a Viable Post-Divorce Option

Abstract

Split custody is an unpopular post-divorce family arrangement because of predictions that it deprives children of sibling support and impedes their adjustment to parents' divorce. The present study collected demographic details of two hundred split-custody families. Fifty-four parents and thirty children completed questionnaires. Thirty-nine of these parents and nineteen children were interviewed.

Children's wishes contributed to the adoption of the arrangement in most families. Parents' unhappiness with split custody stemmed from their separation from a child. Children exercised frequent access to noncustodial parents and separated siblings. Split custody did not weaken sibling or parent/child relationships nor lead to parent/child alliances. It appeared to work well in many families for both parents and children.

Key Words:

• Divorce
• custody
• access
• siblings
• adjustment