Divorce is hard. Divorce when children are involved is even more so. More parents, and courts, in Ohio are choosing joint child custody arrangements — as they are proven, in many cases, to serve the best interests of the children. Figuring out how to make such arrangements work, though, can take some time. A family law attorney can help create a custody plan that fits a family’s needs.
Traditionally, when a joint custody arrangement is ordered, children are the ones who get shuffled back and forth between their parents’ homes. Some children struggle doing this. It is understandable, especially when they are young. This is why parents are starting to get more creative in their post-divorce living arrangements.
There are those who choose to continue living together and just designate their own personal space that is off limits to the other party. This way, they are still both involved in their children’s daily lives, but have their own space to retreat to at the end of the day or when needed. Then, there are those who choose to follow the bird nesting approach. These couples take turns living in the marital home so that the children are not the ones being shuffled around.
Whether a couple chooses a traditional approach to child custody living arrangements or a more modern method, at the end of the day it all has to come down to what they feel will best serve their children. Every family is unique, therefore custody plans must be customized to meet the family needs. Divorcing parents in Ohio can turn to their family law attorneys for help negotiating joint custody parenting plans that really work for them.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Why modern custody agreements look so different: ‘Anything goes, as long as the children are happy’“, Danielle Braff, March 8, 2018