Sometimes divorcing parents in Livermore and Walnut Creek are at odds about who should stay in the family home with the child. Both parents may feel a deep attachment to the family home and want the child to stay in an environment they are familiar with. For parents who are uncomfortable with the idea of shuttling the child between two separate households one unusual child custody arrangement that may be worth considering is “nesting.”
What is nesting?
Nesting is an alternative to traditional child custody arrangements. Traditionally after a divorce each parent will live in a separate home. The child will spend some time in each parent’s home as determined in the parents’ child custody and visitation order. In nesting, however, the child stays in the marital home, and it is the parents who take turns living there with the child. When it is not a parent’s custody time with the child that parent will live in a residence other than the marital home, such as a studio apartment. This avoids the need for the child to live in two separate households.
What are the benefits of nesting?
For some parents and children nesting can be the answer they were looking for. It allows the child to stay in a familiar environment post-divorce. This stability and security can help the child transition to post-divorce life. It also allows parents who want to live in the family home post-divorce to do so at least part of the time which can be emotionally and financially beneficial.
What are the challenges of nesting?
Nesting requires constant communication between each parent as well as cooperation, which can be difficult if the divorce was less than amicable. Parents will have to agree on household rules regarding the child as well as who will clean, purchase groceries and pay the bills among other daily activities and expenses related to homeownership. Nesting might not work well if a parent enters a new romantic relationship post-divorce. And even if parents choose nesting, they still must establish and follow a parenting plan.
Learn more about child custody in California
Nesting may work for some couples while other couples will benefit from more traditional child custody arrangements. Ultimately this post is for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Our firm’s webpage on child custody may be of interest to parents who are seeking a divorce.
