When getting a divorce, the last thing most couples think of doing is staying in the family home together when all is said and done. However, a new trend in family law circles involves parenting plans that keep the kids and parents living on the same property together to make things easier on the children. Wondering what that looks like? A number of divorcing couples in Massachusetts may want to know how or if this could work for them.
When ending one’s marriage, the goal is to do it in a way that allows each party the ability to move forward. When sharing children, that can seem hard to do. More parents are concerned about the impact divorce has on their kids. They are wanting to find ways to limit the negative consequences often associated with a traditional custody arrangement that involves children being shuffled around. This is why living together post divorce is becoming a popular option.
Living together involves the children remaining in the marital home and parents having to work around each other. If both adults decide to remain in the house, they may each find personal space that the other is not allowed to enter and set other ground rules that will help make the living arrangement bearable. If the property has an apartment or guest house, a form of bird nesting may be implemented where each parent takes turn living in the separate space while the other lives in the main house with the children. How it works will be different for every family.
Is this a good option for divorcing couples in Massachusetts? It depends. Every family has unique needs that must be considered when creating parenting plans. For some, remaining in the marital home together may work, for others it won’t. Legal counsel can help one review all the options, discuss all the pros and cons and fight for the custody arrangement that best fits the family needs.
Source: CNBC, “This hot Hollywood divorce trend may not be for you“, Lorie Konish, April 16, 2018
