“Nesting” during a divorce is when the parents take turns having their custodial time with their children in the family home and the parents themselves have separate places. Rather than the minor children going back and forth between two separate residences, they remain in the family home 100% of the time and the parents do all the rotating in and out of the family home.

What are the benefits of nesting agreements? Keeping the children’s environment and routine stable is often the top priority of many parents going through a divorce. Nesting is sometimes a favored option for some parents as it keeps the children’s school, after-school activities, neighbors, friends, etc. the same. Additionally, if either parent is not able to financially secure a new residence to accommodate the minor children, they sometimes choose to rent an affordable residence for themselves and keep the family home as the major housing cost. Nesting can also help parents that are going through a trial separation and gives them time to evaluate whether they really want to divorce and may help ease reconciliation.

Nesting agreements certainly come with their own challenges. It can be very emotional and challenging for both parents to move in and out of the family home continuously. Furthermore, if the parents are not able to secure an affordable second residence for themselves, it may end up costing the parties even more money to keep the family home. Nesting can also lead to other behavior such as spying on the other parent while they are in the house.

Determining whether a nesting agreement is an option for you and your family requires a lot of corroboration and understanding among the parties. Nesting is often very stressful and needs to be very carefully planned. If you have any questions regarding nesting agreements, please contact us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your options.

As the holiday season approaches, many parents can feel the pressure of dealing with the challenges of their holiday visitation schedule. Whether this is the first holiday season that you have to adhere to a visitation schedule with your ex, or perhaps you are dealing with a new change in the holiday schedule this year, there are steps you can take now to minimize the holiday stress with your ex.

Every co-parent should review their parenting plan or existing custody order prior to the holidays. If everything is still ok and no changes or accommodations need to be made, then a simple confirmation with your co-parent should suffice. If there are issues with your current schedule and need to change it, you should first communicate your request to your co-parent and see if any accommodation can be made. Both parents should be flexible and compromise to avoid unproductive communication. Some co-parents may consult and use the services of a mediator if they cannot reach an expeditious agreement among themselves.  Mediation can be an effective tool that may resolve the issue(s) without having to litigate in court. 

Renegotiating with your ex to change the holiday schedule, either on a temporary or permanent basis, can be challenging. If speaking with your co-parent is not fruitful and mediation does not work, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney to discuss your options. Some of the options available may be filing a court modification or enforcement. If you have any questions about your upcoming holiday access schedule, feel free to contact our firm and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your legal options. 

What is a divorce based on mutual consent grounds?

Divorces can take a long time to complete from beginning to end. In some instances, the parties can obtain an absolute divorce based on mutual consent grounds if certain requirements are met. First, there MUST be a written and signed settlement agreement that resolves all the issues including marital property, child custody, child support, alimony, and use and possession of the marital home. Second, there must also be a completed child support guidelines worksheet if child support is involved. Both parties must be satisfied with the agreement and the court must also be satisfied with the agreement. If child custody is part of the agreement, the court must be satisfied that the custody schedule is in the best interests of the minor child(ren).

A lawyer can help you draft the agreement and file the necessary paperwork with the court to help you obtain your final absolute divorce. Filing for an absolute divorce based on mutual consent grounds helps the parties avoid costly litigation and is expeditious once the agreement is drafted and signed. If you have any questions, please contact us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to answer all of your questions.