A rather controversial topic in the realm of family law, nesting is now becoming more popular than ever. Nesting dictates parents move out of the family home, allowing children to stay. Both parents then find their own places nearby to be when it is not that respective parent’s parenting time with the children, while alternating who gets to live in the family home. This approach to visitation focuses more so on the wellbeing of the children rather than the conveniences of the divorcing parties. The children did not choose for their parents to break up, after all.
People who promote nesting believe in disrupting children’s lives as little as possible. In a traditional divorce, children are expected to uproot their lives and live in separate homes every few days. This means children have two sets of closets, bedrooms, and friends, and they leave their belongings or move their belongings with them -- constantly in transit. As a result, children can become disconnected, resentful, and unhappy.
Nesting seeks to ensure the responsibility of divorce is purely on the parents’ shoulders, and if they can afford it, it seems to be a positive alternative to dragging children from home to home. Instead, parents should be the ones expected to accommodate themselves to a decision entirely their own. This arrangement is useful for those who are comfortable with still sharing a space with the children’s other parent, though you won’t ever be living in the same place at the same time. Additionally, it works for those with the funds to find separate living spaces as quickly as possible. Both parents have to agree to the idea of nesting and be committed to it for nesting to work.
The idea of nesting seems attractive until parents look at the logistics of it. Nesting requires three households instead of two. But even if finances are not a strain, most parents opt not to nest due to the loss of privacy from the other parent also having access to the same residence. There are often worries of one parent spying on the other parent. Sometimes parents worry about sharing responsibility for ongoing expenses for the children’s residence or keeping food and other household items stocked.
While nesting can be a positive idea, it poses its challenges. Speak to an attorney to advise you on if nesting might be right for your children.
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At Camille Borg Law PLLC, we are led by a McKinney divorce attorney with an expansive history of success. Our legal team seeks to make the entire divorce process as efficient and effective as possible. Our goal is to ensure you and your children greet the next chapter of your life seamlessly, ready for your lives ahead.
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