Co-Parenting Post Divorce

helping father's win custodyGoing through a divorce can be very stressful. This is true even when the divorce is settled out of court and not litigated. When the parties to the marriage have children, a parenting plan is often recommended to promote the children’s best interests. Parenting plans deal with issues concerning parenting time, child support, and where the children will live. Parents’ chief concern regarding their children should be their children’s stability and mental and physical health.

Co-Parenting

After a divorce is concluded, the parents must maintain a high level of communication with regard to their children. Issues such as the children’s schoolwork, their daily routines, their social and sports related schedules, as well as how they are doing in school and their behavior should be discussed between parents. Co-parenting involves parents working together for the health and well being of their children. The following are a variety of suggestions to help parents successfully develop post divorce co-parenting schemes:

  • all major decisions should be based on the children’s best interests and not promoting one parent’s interests over the other
  • the parents should consult with each other with regard to significant issues regarding how the children are raised
  • the parents should try to maintain cordial relationships with each other
  • the parents should not use the children as messengers between them
  • the parents should each promote the other parent’s relationship with the children
  • neither of the parents should denigrate or talk badly about the other parent in front of the children
  • each parent should take into consideration and have respect for the other parent’s parenting style
  • each parent should keep the other parent informed concerning their children’s daily activities
  • each of the parents should avoid conflicts which are played out in front of the children
  • each of the parents should avoid questioning their children with regard to their relationship with the other parent
  • parents should make decisions based on the children’s best interests
  • each of the parents should be flexible with regard to the other parent’s scheduling needs
  • parents should be cooperative and consistent concerning child support payments

Parents who strive to incorporate the aforementioned bullet points into their parenting plans will have a greater level of success in co-parenting their children. The primary beneficiaries of their success will be the health and general welfare of their children. In essence, parents simply need to put their love of their children over and above all other needs and conflicts between each other.  father's rights advocate in custody proceedings

About Elliot S. Schlissel

Elliot S. Schlissel, Esq. has spent more that 45 years representing individuals in matrimonial and family law cases.