Absent extenuating circumstances, Indiana judges usually allow both parents to have a relationship with their children after a divorce. Ideally, the custody and visitation agreement will have as little impact on the kids as possible. Nesting may be an ideal way to allow you to stay in your child’s life without causing unnecessary stress or drama.
How nesting upends traditional parenting plans
A typical parenting plan calls for a child to split time between the family home and the other parent’s home. However, nesting allows the child to remain in the family home permanently while each parent splits time between that location and their own residence.
How nesting may benefit a child
Nesting may be ideal for a child because it means sleeping in the same bed every night. It also means staying in the same school district, keeping in touch with friends and being close to trusted adults or extended family members. If your child is older, staying home may mean remaining on a sports team or retaining access to an internship or other extracurricular opportunities. It may also mean being able to keep a job that is within walking or biking distance from home.
How nesting may benefit you
Nesting may be ideal for you because it means that there is no rush to sell your house or to negotiate a buyout with your former spouse. This may be helpful if you’re in the midst of a downturn in the market or there are other issues that may make it difficult to unload the property right away. The divorce judge may determine exactly how long a nesting situation will last for, which may give you further clarity about how to proceed after your divorce is finalized.
If you share children with your spouse, you will need to account for their interests when crafting a divorce settlement. This may mean that you have to make child support payments or give up a larger share of marital property to your spouse to ensure that they are properly cared for.
