For almost all of human history we have thought of two parents as the norm. Indeed, in the era of no-fault divorce, most of assume that only two parents at most will share parental custody after a divorce.

However, in a recent case, the judge granted custody to three parents.

The Case

According to the New York Journal, a New York judge recently granted custody rights to three people. One of them is a man and two are women, all instrumental in the child’s early life, according to the report.

The judge claimed that this extension of custody rights is a logical extension of New York’s unmarried partners’ custody rights laws that were drastically expanded in 2016.

What Impact Will This Case Have?

Although a case like this won’t have direct precedent over other jurisdictions, it is important to note that all of these cases influence the others. One case in this jurisdiction, while not authoritative in another, is nonetheless still available for the lawyers involved and for the judges to help them argue the case and make their determinations.

In an age when same-sex marriage is given legal protection and parenting no longer requires a traditional man/woman relationship, this case could be seen as a major success.

Whether you think this case is a positive development or not, it is clearly important. As the law regarding same-sex marriage and parenting continues to progress, we are likely to see more of these multi-parent judgments coming from the bench.

If you are facing a child custody dispute of this kind, make sure you talk with an experienced attorney who can help you protect your parental rights and walk you through your case.