Nesting is a custody alternative that has been gaining popularity with New Jersey parents in recent years. This arrangement involves allowing the children to stay in the family home, while the parents take turns living there with them.

The idea behind nesting is to minimize the impact of the divorce on the children, as they get to remain in a familiar environment. It can also be a temporary arrangement until the parents decide on a long-term custody plan.

Benefits of nesting

Nesting can be an effective solution for parents who want to maintain stability for their children during a divorce. It allows the children to continue living in the same home, attend the same school and maintain their routines.

The parents, in turn, can alternate living with the children in the family home, while the other parent stays elsewhere. This child custody arrangement can reduce the trauma and emotional upheaval that children often experience during a divorce.

Potential challenges

Nesting requires a high level of cooperation and communication between the parents. They must work together to manage the household, including finances, cleaning and maintenance. It can also be challenging to find suitable accommodation for the parents when they are not in the family home.

Nesting may not be a viable long-term solution, as it can become expensive and impractical over time. It may also not be suitable for high-conflict divorces, where cooperation and communication are difficult. In these cases, a more traditional custody arrangement may be more appropriate.

Making the right custody decision

Nesting can be a useful custody alternative for parents who want to minimize the impact of the divorce on their children. It allows the children to remain in a familiar environment, maintaining their routines and stability. However, it requires a high level of cooperation and communication between the parents and may not be suitable for long-term custody arrangements.