Unique Options for Co-Parenting After Divorce

 Posted on September 21, 2023 in Child Custody

Parents who are getting divorced must create a parenting plan. A parenting plan covers things like when the child will spend time with each parent and which parent has the right to make important decisions about the child’s upbringing. The most common co-parenting arrangement involves each parent having designated parenting time to spend with the child in their individual household. While this tends to work well for many if not most divorced parents, it is not the only option.

Many parents hesitate to get divorced at all for fear that they will spend far less time with their children. There are several unique and creative strategies for parents who want a different way to co-parent after divorce. These strategies will tend to work best for parents who are able to remain amicable, as they require a higher degree of cooperation between parents. An attorney can help you assess which methods of post-divorce co-parenting are likely to be best for your family.

Creative Co-Parenting Techniques for Divorced Parents

Not all methods will work well for all parents and children. It is important to carefully consider what is likely to work well in your individual circumstances. Potential co-parenting strategies you can agree to in your Illinois parenting plan include: 

• Continued cohabitation - You and your ex-spouse continue to live in the same household, but with separate bedrooms. This often works well for parents with a baby or several very young children who are best managed between two adult caregivers. However, if one of you gets into a serious romantic relationship, this strategy may no longer be practical.

• Nearby living - Other parents will choose to live in the same apartment building or down the street from one another, allowing the children to easily move back and forth while both parents stay closely involved and see their child daily. These parents may benefit from having their own space, but still enjoy the benefits of being near their children at all times.

• Move the parents, not the kids - If your children have special needs or would otherwise have trouble living in two different households, there is a way to avoid the hassle while still giving each parent privacy and space from the other. Using the "birdnesting" strategy, the children remain in the marital home full time and the parents take turns staying there when they have parenting time. The major downfall of this strategy is that it means the parents must maintain their own household in addition to sharing responsibility for a third household.

Contact a Wheaton Divorce Lawyer 

Andrew Cores Family Law Group is skilled in helping parents who are getting divorced find a co-parenting strategy that works for them. Our experienced DuPage County divorce attorneys will strive to help you find the perfect parenting plan for your family. Contact us at 630-871-1002 for a complimentary consultation.