Making Birdnesting Work in Illinois

 Posted on March 13, 2024 in Child Custody

There are many different ways a child custody arrangement can be settled. One parent might be granted full custody. One might be granted no nights at all with their child and infrequent visitation. A couple could also have complete joint custody, in which case they both have the same number of days with their child. Once they work out when the child will be with which parent, the question remains where everyone will live. As part of the division of property that happens in a divorce, couples generally decide which spouse will keep the family home and which will move somewhere else. But there is another option. Couples who can get along well even after divorce might consider birdnesting as a possibility. This article will review what birdnesting is, and a knowledgeable Naperville, IL child custody lawyer can offer more thorough details.

What Does Birdnesting Mean?

When parents go through a divorce, they need to come up with an arrangement for dividing custody as well as assets and property. Often, one parent keeps the family home, and the other moves somewhere nearby, close enough to be able to get their kids to school. The children will sleep at their respective parent’s homes on their designated nights together. Birdnesting is a different way of handling this. The children live permanently in their home, and the parents alternate sleeping there. On the nights that they do not have parenting time, they sleep elsewhere.

The main reason people might consider birdnesting as an option is because it has the potential to provide their children with a great deal of stability during this time of family transition. It can be difficult to pack up and sleep in a different bed numerous times a week, and the children might find they are missing things they need on certain days for their extracurricular activities. If they have one home where their life is centered and their parents share that home with them, it can create a sense of balance and constancy that might otherwise be lacking.

However, this is really only an option for divorced couples who can maintain healthy communication and can share a living space even if they are not there at the same time. If the parents are constantly trying to hurt each other or are easily offended by each other, various things that can happen in a busy life - dirty dishes left in the sink, laundry left in the dishwasher, a lightbulb that needs to be replaced - can quickly lead to much larger arguments. If the parents understand each other and do not feel like enemies, such matters can likely be kept within their actual proportions and the arrangement can be a positive one for all involved.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Naperville, IL Child Custody Attorney

At Pesce Law Group, P.C., we are dedicated to families and strive to do whatever it takes for your peace of mind. If thinking about having your children move back and forth to separate homes is a source of stress, a compassionate DuPage County, IL divorce lawyer can speak with you about other options that might better suit your family. Call 630-352-2240 to schedule a free consultation.