Home > News

Let us help you locate an attorney. Use the form below to find a divorce attorney in your area.

Feb 23rd, 2006

Children Given Equal Access to Both Parents

Both the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire are working on enabling children of divorced parents equal access to both.

The shared-parenting legislation wants to mandate the presumption of joint custody. In Massachusetts, child custody laws would be amended. These laws would then say that the “welfare of the children is enhanced by frequent and continuing contact with both their parents.” The amendments would also be more specific in stating that the parents will both have shared legal as well as physical custody of any minor child of the parties.

In New Hampshire, the child custody may be a bit different. The state seeks to enforce orders regarding parenting plans. If a parent feels that their rights, which are court ordered and protected, are being ignored, that parent can file a petition requesting enforcement of the court order. Then, a hearing would be scheduled before a judge. If that judge finds that the accused parent is in someway breaking the agreement he or she may be subject to a state investigation for child abuse and neglect.

These two states are seeking to implement a more effective and stronger method of child custody. In this effort, these states can ensure the children of divorce maintain a healthy well-being.

Hawaii Alaska California Washington Oregon Nevada Idaho Montana Wyoming Utah Arizona New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey Delaware Maryland Washington DC Colorado North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas New Mexico Texas Okalahoma Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Indiana Michigan Ohio Florida Mississippi Alabama Georgia Kentucky Tennessee South Carolina North Carolina Virginia West Virginia Pennsylvania New York vermont Maine