Once your divorce is finalized, you may still find yourself in contact with your ex-spouse. This is typically the case if you have children together. Although there are challenges associated with co-parenting, the right approach by both individuals can help prevent a future child custody dispute.
Here are five co-parenting tips to help prevent trouble now and in the future:
- Communicate when necessary: This doesn’t mean you have to talk every day, but make sure you openly communicate when necessary. For example, if you need to change a visitation time, talk about it as soon as possible with your ex.
- Think about what’s best for your children: You can’t go wrong when you put the best interests of your children above all else.
- Don’t argue about everything: It’s hard to pick your battles after divorce, as you always want to get in the last word. Even so, you shouldn’t turn every disagreement into an argument, as this will only add stress to your situation.
- Remain flexible: You should attempt to follow your parenting agreement down to every last detail, but flexibility is imperative to co-parenting success. If you remain flexible, there’s a greater chance of your ex doing the same.
- Don’t get in the way: Your children and your ex have the right to spend time together without you getting in the way and complicating things. When you adhere to the schedule that’s in place, you can avoid a situation in which you interject and upset the other parent.
Even if you follow these co-parenting tips, it’s still possible you could run into a dispute. For example, if your ex-spouse continually violates the terms of their visitation agreement, it can weigh on you. Not to mention the fact that it can impact your relationship with your children.
Start out by discussing your concerns with your ex. Sometimes this is all it takes to get back on track. If this doesn’t work, learn more about your legal rights. You may have to head back to family court in an attempt to resolve the issues at hand.
Visit our website and read our family law blog posts to learn more about your legal rights in Ohio, how to protect them and some of the many child custody disputes you may have to deal with at some point.