Brad Pitt is seeking joint custody of his six children in his divorce from Angelina Jolie. Conversely, Ms Jolie has asked for full physical custody of all the children, who are aged eight to 15.
The BBC reports that Ms Jolie cited “irreconcilable differences” when she filed to end the marriage. Reports suggest that Mr Pitt is being investigated over an incident with his eldest son on a plane. A child welfare agency in Los Angeles is examining what happened during the incident on a private flight in mid-September.
California divorce courts generally favor joint custody, but the outcome of the plane row could affect the judge’s decision. The actors may also hammer out a deal privately to avoid the matter being aired in public.
I’ve written frequently about custody in Florida. In Florida, we went through a major transformation of our custody laws in adopting the parenting plan concept, and eliminating the outdated terms of “primary residential parent” and “visitation.”
It is now Florida’s express public policy that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents separate or the marriage of the parties is dissolved, and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing.
There is also no presumption for or against the father or mother of the child or for or against any specific time-sharing schedule when creating or modifying the parenting plan of the child.
In Florida today, courts order that the parental responsibility for children be shared by both parents unless the court finds that shared parental responsibility would be detrimental to the child.
The BBC article is here.