ONCE THE DECISIONS are finally made—about custody as well as property, child support payments, alimony, and other issues—the divorce proceedings are concluded. However, even though the marriage is legally over, the difficulties faced by teens whose parents have just divorced are not over. In fact, the months and years after the divorce, when teens and their families must get used to different living arrangements, present a whole set of difficult challenges.

What custody really means

Custody is usually thought of as a living arrangement, but the term refers to much more. There is legal custody, and there is physical custody. Legal custody refers to the person or persons responsible for making important decisions about the upbringing of the children of the divorced couple. Such decisions may include the types of medical care, religious training...