Shared parenting to be the norm in Switzerland

By FNF Scotland on Wednesday, November
23, 2011 at 2:16PM

The Swiss government has decided that separated parents should automatically have joint custody of their children except in cases involving the specific protection of the child.
When a couple splits or gets divorced, custody of their children will be shared without the need for a prior agreement or the approval of a judge.
Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said that the Federal Council considered the move obvious, since a child has the right to build an autonomous relationship with both father and mother.
All political parties, as well as family and children's associations, welcomed Sommaruga’s proposal, which is widely expected to pass into law when voted on in parliament in the coming weeks.
But while joint custody is set to become the norm, a judge will still have to sign off on the suitability of both parents to take responsibility for their children. A parent may be denied custody for reasons including infirmity, a history of violence or absence.
At present in Switzerland, when a couple divorces, one parent generally gets sole custody. If the couple is not married, the mother is the legal custodian. For now, joint custody is only possible if both parties sign an agreement on how they plan to distribute and share alimony and childcare.
The draft proposal also regulates the question of residence. If a parent wishes to move, either alone or with the child, he or she will need the consent of the other party. If there is no agreement, a judge will have to intervene to protect the well-being of the child. (The Local english newspaper)