A possible child custody alternative | The bird’s nest method

What is the one thing that most child custody arrangements have in common? The children must be periodically uprooted and trundled off to a second home. What if there was a way to keep the children in the home at all times? Is this something you and your former spouse might like?

The theory behind “birdnesting” relates to providing and then maintaining stability for the children of divorce. Theoretically, not having to switch from home to home can be an advantage for children, but how does it work? Rather than uprooting the children during custody exchanges, the parents move instead. This means that each parent takes turns residing in the family home with the children. For many, this is an ideal way to provide kids with a caring, nurturing and stable home life after divorce.

As with any child custody arrangements, birdnesting has a potential downside. It could be challenging to figure out where a parent will reside when custodial time changes. This might mean a family has to maintain three residences instead of two. Unless the parents can find a solution to this problem, the extra costs associated with housing may be prohibitive.

Despite any potential disadvantages, birdnesting is becoming more and more popular as a child custody alternative in the United States. As with any custody agreement, the bird’s nest method is subject to approval by a New Jersey court and may not be an option in all jurisdictions. If you are interested in exploring the bird’s nest method as an alternative to more traditional custody arrangements, you should consult with a family law attorney for additional information.

Source: CustodyZen.com, “Bird’s Nest Custody,” accessed April 14, 2016

Carrie S. Schultz, Esq. – author

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