Each Florida divorce is unique in its circumstances, so why should your custody arrangements be cookie-cutter? What is right for one family can be completely wrong for another.
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are struggling to settle on workable child custody arrangements, now might be a good time to start thinking outside the box. Below is some information on a typically nontraditional version of custody.
Is bird’s nest custody a good fit for your family?
If you have never heard of bird’s nest custody, this arrangement has the children living permanently in the family home while the parents transition in and out of it during their parenting time with the children. It can be an especially good choice if one of the children suffers from disabilities or conditions that require expensive medical equipment that would be too costly to duplicate.
Parents of children on the autism spectrum may also find this is a workable solution. Since transitions are often challenging for kids on the spectrum, remaining in the same place every day can be easier as they learn to adjust to the new normal of post-divorce life.
Why it might not be for you
Bird’s nest custody requires a level of civility and accommodation that many newly separated couples cannot summon. Also, bird’s nest parenting is expensive. Unless the co-parents agree to share a dwelling as roommates when they are not with the kids, they will need to support three households between them.
Even when it initially works well, after one partner moves on with a serious love interest, the situation may no longer be tenable. If you want to have the best custody arrangements possible for your Florida parenting plan, it is always best to understand all your options.