When a set of California parents go through a divorce, it takes a toll on the kids. One thing that is challenging for children who are coping with divorce is having to travel back and forth between two households, keeping track of personal belongings, school supplies, sports equipment, and more. That is why many families today are choosing a unique child custody arrangement called bird nesting.
In a bird-nesting child custody plan, the kids do not have to move when their parents divorce. The children continue to live in the marital home like they did before their parents filed for a divorce. The parents take turns living there with them.

Is sharing a house with an ex a wise child custody decision?

A bird-nesting child custody arrangement can be beneficial in several ways. Because of this, many parents are willing to give it a try. Here are some of the known benefits:

  • Birding nesting enables children to maintain a sense of structure, routine and normalcy in their lives as they adapt to a new family dynamic.
  • Parents do not have to deal with the stress of selling the home they shared during their marriage.
  • It is a customizable plan that enables each set of co-parents to negotiate their terms of agreement, set boundaries, etc.
  • Parents do not have to worry about custody transfer locations — all they need to do is move into the house when it is their turn.

Many parents have separate, private quarters in the family home for a bird nesting arrangement. They do not enter each other’s rooms. However, some parents are okay with using the same room, especially if there is limited space available.

Where do the parents live when it is not their turn to be with the kids?

One of the potential downsides to a bird-nesting child custody plan is that each parent must secure a secondary residence to live in when it is not his or her turn for custody. To keep costs to a minimum, parents might consider sharing the secondary residence just like they share the family home. It is wise to seek legal counsel before entering into a bird nest agreement.