Thinking about Co-Parenting?
When parental responsibility is shared many details need to be worked out such as:
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What role each parent will have?
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How much contact with the child will they have?
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How financial costs will be split?
As this can be complicated it is advisable to get legal advice before entering into any co-parenting arrangement. Being able to discuss with your co-parent what you expect from the start, can prevent a lot of problems occurring further down the line.
Role
There are many different co-parenting options and it is important to discuss what will work for both parties depending on your individual circumstances. For example if one male and one female are thinking about co-parenting together you may wish to discuss who will have primary custody, will custody be split equally?
Likewise if a partnered couple are co-parenting with a single person how will these parenting roles be split between all three parties?
You will need to consider:
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Your location - how far away from each do you live?, Is it practical to share custody every week?
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Your working hours – what commitments do you have that may impact on your availability?
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Religion – can both parties agree on what religion to raise your child?
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Discipline – what methods will each party use to disciple the child?
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Schooling – where will the child attend school?
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Support – what support mechanisms are in place for you as a parent? Do you have friends and family you can call on to support you?
Contact
How often each party has contact with their child is a huge discussion point that should be ironed out before you embark on your co-parenting journey. Will one party be seen as a primary carer or will each party have equal access?
Think practically about what will be involved for the child in terms of consistency in their life.
Finances
Having a child is costly so discussing issues regarding your child’s financial contribution is important. You will need to consider everything from food and clothing to schooling and vacations. Agree on a comprehensive list of costings and decide how these finances will be split.
Co-Parenting Agreement
Discussing a co-parenting agreement with a lawyer is essential if you wish to clearly state your intentions as a co-parenting couple. Having a legal agreement can help to eradicate any disputes that may arise between you and your co-parent.
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