How can you reduce conflict with visitation and custody plans?

On Behalf of | Aug 27, 2020 | Divorce

Getting custody of your child after a divorce is something that you’ve focused on. You and your spouse don’t get along, so you’ve been trying to find ways to minimize stress and to protect your child against the conflicts that could happen.

For many people, sharing custody is a struggle, even if a visitation schedule is working well for them. Custody exchanges can be ripe for conflict, and each parent might disagree with the other’s manner of raising their child.

There is no question that raising a child under these circumstances can be hard. One of the things you should do is look into ways to reduce conflict. For example, choosing a neutral drop-off/pick-up point, encouraging communication through court-monitored apps or programs and having a clear, specific and detailed parenting plan can help.

How does a neutral drop-off point help?

Some parents who deal with conflict prefer to have a neutral drop-off point. There may be safe places, such as libraries, police stations or firehouses, which offer this as a service. Essentially, the facility works as a neutral zone where your child can safely wait for the other parent to pick them up. This minimizes contact between the parents.

How can you benefit from court-monitored apps?

Court-monitored apps are ideal for communicating with a parent you don’t get along with. The apps and programs allow you to talk back and forth, but the court does monitor those communications. If there is ever a problem, the court will have a copy of everything that was said.

Why have a detailed parenting plan?

Finally, remember that a detailed parenting plan can make a big difference in how custody is handled and your child is raised. Working out little details, like who is responsible for transportation, procedures to follow if a parent is late or even parameters for things like medical care and education, make it easier for both parents to know what is supposed to happen and when.

These are some good ideas for reducing conflict as you work on living with a new custody and visitation arrangement. If problems continue, it may be worth discussing your options with your attorney.