Is there a chance that the courts would split the children up?

Yes.  The courts can award what is called “split custody,” which means that one or more of the children live with one parent, and one or more of the children live with the other parent.  In these cases a typical arrangement would be to have the children with their respective custodial parents during the week, and on the first and third weekend all children would be with one parent, while the second and fourth weekend all children would be with the other parent.  This allows for the siblings to spend time together.

Split custody may be a solution in some or all of the following situations:

a. neither parent has the ability to care for all of the children at once;

b. there are problems between one or more of the children and a particular parent;

c. a child has special needs, and that requires a substantial amount of time and energy;

d. there are problems between some of the children; and/or

e. one of the children is involved in an activity that requires a substantial amount of time and energy (such as some athletic, musical,  or other endeavor).

Split custody is very rare.