Some states have a presumption that joint custody is in the best interest of the child, while other states have no provision for it. Advocates of joint custody claim it lessens the feeling of losing a parent that children may experience after a divorce and that it is fair to both parents. However, because of the high degree of cooperation joint custody requires, courts resist ordering it if either of the parents does not want it or if there is evidence of past domestic violence. Later problems regarding medical or education decisions concerning the child may develop necessitating long and lengthy court proceedings.
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