Are you concerned about managing co-parenting issues during a divorce? The manner with which you handle yourself and all communications between you and your former spouse will make all the difference in a successful outcome.
Going through a divorce can present many new challenges for anyone in Louisville. This is especially true when efforts still need to be made to jointly juggle child custody and parenting time responsibilities. Whether a divorce is amicable or contentious, the purpose of co-parenting is to keep both parents actively involved in their child’s life. When effective, joint parenting can help to ensure the children feel they can turn to both parents for support and advice. The odds of succeeding with co-parenting often increase when both parents have a solid plan in place during the divorce process.
One option when managing co-parenting issues during a divorce is to spell out parenting plans with an agreement between soon-to-be-exes. Such a plan typically includes:
- a mutually agreed upon custody schedule
- how and where exchanges will be made
- how decisions pertaining to the health, education and religious practices of the child(ren) will be decided
- who will have custody during specific holidays
- how co-parents will communicate with one another
It can also be beneficial for both parties to allow some degree of flexibility with parenting schedules to allow for unexpected issues and emergencies.
Barring situations involving substance abuse or domestic violence, co-parenting is the preferred post-divorce arrangement. This typically includes encouraging both parents to respect the child’s relationship with the other parent by not badmouthing or belittling their former spouse or using the child to send messages back and forth. If new co-parents feel overwhelmed or have difficulty communicating respectfully with an ex, therapy may be helpful to address feelings. Children may also feel more comfortable talking to a neutral party if they are experiencing issues with the co-parenting set-up.
Dealing with co-parenting issues during a divorce begins with sound planning and strategy before your divorce is even filed. The experienced Louisville family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd can prove to be an important resource and partner for parents going through the divorce process.
If negotiating an initial co-parenting arrangement between the parties isn’t successful, mediation may prove to be a cost-effective alternative.
Learn more and contact Dodd & Dodd or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment. When all involved parties are committed to making co-parenting work, careful planning and negotiated arrangements can establish the groundwork for healthy, long-term parent-child relationships.
