What is Nesting in a Divorce?
Nesting in is a living arrangement that keeps children in the family home while parents take turns living there and spending time with the children. When a parent is not in the family home, they live elsewhere. Nesting is meant to keep the burden of the divorce on parents rather than children. While a nesting arrangement usually starts after divorce, some try the living arrangement during their separation period. This way, each parent gets a fair share of parenting time and the kids don’t have to worry about moving while their parents are still deciding where they may each live and what the custodial access schedule will be.
When You Should Consider Nesting
Nesting helps smooth the transition to a separated/post-divorce family by maintaining normalcy and the status quo for children. Co-parenting in the same household allows children to stay in familiar surroundings. Their home environment stays the same, they get to sleep in the same bed and take a bath in the same bathtub.
Along with easing the transition for children, nesting gives the parents more time to decide who will live in the marital residence long-term, if either parent wants to. It also allows the parents time to finalize the division of their marital assets and determine what, if any, financial support may be paid by either party.
It is important to keep in mind that nesting can work well for some families during the early stages of divorce, but might not be a good solution for most people in the long-term. Parents should be willing to develop, perhaps with help from a therapist, a detailed and structured nesting plan that spells out predictable issues and how they will be resolved. Good communication, mutual respect and trust may need to be strengthened, which requires a commitment by both parents to do so.
At Jacobson Family Law we offer in-person and virtual consultations as well as divorce and custody Mediations and telephone sessions to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today by calling 443-741-1147 to schedule a consultation or mediation session or set up an appointment online using our website.
