Custody, Visitation and Parenting
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| What is the parenting education program? |
A six hour class offered by different social service organizations throughout Connecticut. The program is designed to help divorcing parents help their children by covering: the developmental stages of children; adjustment of children to parental separation; dispute resolution and conflict management; guidelines for visitation, stress reduction in children and cooperative parenting.
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| Do all divorcing persons have to take the parenting education program even if they agree about custody and parenting? |
Yes, with few exceptions, completion of the program is mandatory and a prerequisite to obtaining a divorce.
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| What does “shared custody” mean? |
Parents share custody when they each have equal input into decision making for the child and the child lives with each parent a substantial amount of time, although not necessarily equal time with each parent.
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| If one spouse had an affair during the marriage, does this hinder his or her custody or parenting rights? |
Not typically.
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| If one spouse intends to live with a boyfriend or girlfriend during or after the divorce, does this mean he or she will not have custody or visitation? |
Not typically, although the parenting plan may reflect the parent’s actual or anticipated living arrangements.
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| If a parent can’t or won’t pay child support does this mean he or she can’t have custody or visitation rights? |
No.
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