What is "Birdnesting" and How Is It Effective For Co-Parenting
Divorce is extremely difficult on the spouses separating but can be even more difficult on children that are involved. A child going through divorce is experiencing change in many different ways; more fighting between parents, not doing activities as a family, living with one parent or another, and more. As separated parents, you need to adopt a version of co-parenting that works for you, your ex-spouse, and your children. One of the newest forms of co-parenting is birdnesting. Continue reading to learn more about birdnesting and whether or not it is effective for co-parenting.
What is birdnesting?
Birdnesting is a new emerging type of co-parenting plan in a custody agreement where the divorcing parents keep the marital home and that is the primary residence of the children. Then the divorcing parents rent out another apartment or home for the two of them to share when they are not parenting. The parents switch back and forth between being the parent in the home and staying at the other rental property when they are not parenting within the family home.
Positives of Birdnesting
Financially, keeping the marital home and renting a smaller home or apartment is cheaper than both having full houses. Housing expenses are typically the largest expense each ex-spouse will have after divorce. Also keeping the marital home could make the property division decisions easier. Since the marital house will be kept, the divorcing parents do not have to decide if someone keeps the house or if they will sell the house.
Emotionally, your children can greatly benefit from remaining in the home that they are used to instead of being moved to different homes and being shuffled around back and forth between their parents’ homes.
Negatives of Birdnesting
When you sell the marital home or one of you keeps it and the other one moves out, there is more of a clean division of the marriage. While there may be financial support provided to one or the other, you are very separated when you have different permanent residences. However, when you share the marital house and other rentals, the line is blurred. Since you are still sharing the same living spaces, you could still have arguments about the dishes, the cleanliness of the home, or bills. You will also have to develop a financial plan on how bills are split. Child support could also be confusing since there is not a full division of custody. In addition to a financial plan, you may need plans down to a chore chart.
Emotionally, it can be extremely difficult to not have a clean split from your ex-spouse. You can have issues of privacy by not having your own separate living spaces. What are the boundaries for your shared living spaces? How are you supposed to move forward with a new relationship when you are still sharing living spaces with your ex-spouse? Also, it could get confusing for your children to see their parents coming and going.
Is birdnesting effective for co-parenting?
Whether or not birdnesting is effective for co-parenting is entirely up to you, your ex-spouse, and your children’s situation. Since it is a newer form of co-parenting, there is not much data to go off when deciding whether or not it is truly better for children than other co-parenting methods. Family law attorneys and mediators can help you make an educated decision on if birdnesting would be a good option for you and your family, as well as help structure financial plans and custody agreements.
If you need legal assistance with child custody matters or any family law matter, our attorneys at the BWS Firm are here to help. Our attorneys practice family law with compassion in mind to give you the best legal advice and support through these difficult personal matters. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at info@BWSfirm.com.
Sources:
https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/divorce/birdnesting.php