Financial Issues to Consider in a Joint Custody Arrangement 1 . Parents need to consult with one another on substantial questions relating to educational programs, financial planning, religious upbringing, significant changes in social environment, and health care. Parents need to exert their best efforts to work cooperatively in making plans consistent with the best interests of the children. Specific periods of time with a given parent may need to be defined. Joint custody, in and of itself, does not determine the amount of time a child spends with either parent but does imply that a child has access to each parent for enough time to allow the relationship to be meaningful and not superficial.
Some children alternate between parents' homes on an equal time basis.
Other families have a more traditional arrangement where children spend the week with one parent and weekends with the other parent. Children's' ages and school situations as well as the parents' employment and availability must be considered in planning an appropriate physical custody arrangement. That parent shall take all financial responsibility for meeting medical and dental emergencies. Some parents agree to share this responsibility equally while others may pay the costs as they arise and pro-rate more substantial costs such as medical, school, and clothing, according to income. Parents may agree to contribute money on a pro-rated basis into an account that is used to provide this support for the children.