Child custody arrangements can be complex. Often, they’re a bit disruptive for children. Even if parents share time perfectly evenly, the children still have to move back and forth between two new homes, so it’s quite an adjustment.
One thing to consider to get around this is birdnesting. Under this setup, the children don’t have to move. Instead, it is the parents who cycle in and out of a shared home where the children always live. For instance, you and your spouse may own your family home together and continue owning it jointly after the divorce, allowing the children to keep living in that house and then just moving in and out based on your custody schedule.
Are there any downsides?
There are upsides for children, as birdnesting can make divorce feel less of a change and give them a greater sense of stability. But there are also some downsides for parents.
For one thing, this is an expensive option, so it’s not affordable for all couples. Parents need to have other places to live when they don’t have custody, so this is only really possible in high-asset divorce cases where couples own multiple properties already—or are willing to buy them.
Another downside is that couples who have a high degree of conflict probably can’t use birdnesting because there’s just too much communication and interaction. They have to work together to care for the family home, to pay the bills, to do maintenance and upkeep and generally just to share the living space. Even if they’re living there at different times, they need to be on relatively good terms for this to go smoothly.
Are you considering birdnesting and your other options as you move through a divorce? It’s important to know exactly what legal steps to take.
