Steering You Toward Your Best Options

Nesting as a form of physical custody

On Behalf of | Jun 6, 2017 | Child Custody

When going through a divorce, it is especially important for Texas parents to be mindful of how ending their marriage can impact their children. While changes will occur, there are many ways parents can make the process easier. One option they could consider is a nesting arrangement.

From a psychological standpoint, it is typically better for both parents to have a relationship with their children and a significant involvement in their lives. Perhaps because of this, courts feel the same way. While shared custody provides the contact with both parents that a child needs, moving between two locations can be disruptive. To avoid this, nesting allows the children to stay in one location while the parents switch places instead.

The nesting model may not be practical for every family but could work in some situations when a divorce is amicable. If finances are limited, parents might be able to rent an apartment together for the parent who is not staying in the marital home. While parents might have logistics to work out among themselves, the good thing is that children receive a stable, secure environment. This also still provides children with a close relationship with both parents.

Nesting encourages parents to work together for the sake of their children, and children get to see their parents getting along and making things work for their benefit. A nesting set up can be temporary or more long-term, so some parents might use nesting as a way to transition between marriage and divorce.

In many cases, a nesting arrangement may not work. However, this model serves to illustrate that children need to be a primary focus during and after the divorce. When forming a custody and visitation agreement, parents must attempt to reach a solution that works best for the children. They may want to discuss this matter with their respective attorneys.