How to Form a Successful Co-Parenting Relationship
After a divorce, building a successful co-parenting relationship can be hard, especially if your relationship didn’t end on the best terms. Divorce impacts everyone involved, including children, but a little guidance and a nudge in the right direction can make co-parenting easier.
Here’s a simple guide of co-parenting do’s and don’ts from our attorneys at Fait & DiLima, LLP.
Do: Stick to Your Visitation Agreement
If you have a court-ordered custody agreement in place with your ex, it’s important that you follow the rules of the agreement. Following the agreement guarantees your kids time with both parents and lessens the chances of your ex making a complaint to the court about the amount of time they’re able to spend with your children.
Don’t: Communicate With Your Ex Through Your Children
While you may want to avoid heated conversations with your ex, it’s important to remember that using your children to pass messages between you and your ex can cause issues and confusion down the road.
Do: Keep a Record of Written Communication
There are co-parenting apps that help you keep track of communication between you and your ex involving your children. Some of these apps can even be used in court and can potentially benefit your custody arrangement.
Don’t: Argue in Front of Your Children
Co-parenting won’t always be easy, and you should try to avoid having disagreements or arguments about your custody agreement or anything else, with your kids present. Having arguments could negatively affect your children and how they view visitation. Their perception of what visitation is, and their relationship with you as their parents, can impact them as they get older.
If you’re looking for help understanding how custody agreements work and what they can mean for your family, our attorneys at Fait & DiLima, LLP, are here to answer your questions. We advocate for healthy parenting relationships and use our legal skills to assist families with solving issues.
To learn more about child custody and visitation in Maryland, schedule a consultation with our team today at (301) 251-0100.
