When it comes to children, splitting and sharing custody are not the same thing.
Shared custody in Connecticut refers to a parenting plan where both parents have equal or close to equal parenting time with the children. The children essentially have two homes.
Split custody is in arrangement where siblings live in different households (i.e. if there only one child it is not split plan). The children are split – hence “split custody”. It is not an equal split of parenting time as some use the term. This type of parenting plan is not that common but it does make sense in certain circumstances.
Here are a few reasons why a judge would order this type of arrangement:
1. Informed preferences of a child. One child may have a strong preference and legitimate reasons for living with one parent rather than the other.
2. Fighting sibs. I am not talking about brother and sisters just not getting along or some form of sibling rivalry. I mean frequent altercations or behavior that’s so disruptive requiring the siblings to reside in separate homes. Sometimes it’s best for the entire family that siblings not live together.
3. Relocation. When a parent wishes to move long-distance, one of the children may prefer to stay behind with one parent while another child relocates with the other parent. This often occurs with an older child who has strong ties to a school, friends and activities in their present community and does not wish to move.