Washington fans of the TV reality show “Real Housewives of Orange County” may be aware that one of the show’s stars, Alexis Bellino, has been going through an emotional upheaval in her personal life. The situation was prompted by her husband’s filing for divorce in June. The couple had been married for more than a decade at that time and have three children together.
While Bellino’s divorce has made news headlines, the former spouses issued a public statement, stressing their mutual love and respect for each other and informing their fans that they have amicable agreed to share custody of their children. There are several factors that lend themselves toward a successful shared custody arrangement. Those in Washington who are wondering if such an arrangement would work in their situations can refer to Bellino’s divorce as an example.
Bellino’s husband said the two spouses simply drifted apart. In contentious divorces, perhaps where a crisis event such as an extra marital affair prompts a divorce, it is less likely that former spouses will be able to sustain a peaceful shared custody agreement. A key factor in Bellino’s situation is that both spouses say they have the utmost respect for the other and want to work together to do what is best for their children.
If a Washington spouse believes the other parent is somehow a detriment to his or her children’s well-being, shared custody may not be the best option. Neither Bellino nor her former husband accused the other of substance or physical abuse; therefore, it is logical to assume both find each other to be fit as parents. An experienced family law attorney can help a parent determine whether or not a 50/50 custody agreement is the best option to pursue in a particular divorce.
