On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
Missouri residents may have heard of a new trend in parenting after divorce called “bird nesting.” The arrangement allows the children to remain in the family home while the parents take turns living there with them. This type of child custody solution has gotten mainstream attention as the premise of the show “Splitting Up Together.” It features divorced parents who have chosen to live together with their children.
One of the benefits to such an arrangement is that it doesn’t involve a lot of upheaval for a child. It also allows an individual to remain in their home until it makes sense to sell or until a lease agreement expires. Those who have just ended their relationship could choose to live together for a short time as a way to split in an orderly fashion. Typically, this works best when parents can communicate effectively and appropriately with each other and their children.
The children should understand that their parents are not planning on getting back together despite their living situation. Other custody arrangements may be best for those who don’t have similar schedules or for those who can’t afford to maintain their own living space when not in the house. In some cases, different views about housework could make it impractical to employ the bird nest strategy.
In a custody case, parents should generally do whatever is in the best interest of their children. This may mean that the children stay in one place while the parents rotate between the family home and another residence. Depending on the age of the child, a son or daughter may provide input as to how the arrangement should be created. With their attorneys, the parents may be able to negotiate to create a plan that works for everyone.
