3 Ways to Make Child Visitation After Divorce Easier

A divorce is filed every 36 seconds in America. Several of these dissolution involve children and visitation rights. Although the practice of peaceful co-parenting is not easy, it is necessary for the emotional well-being of your child.

Here are three ways that you can make visitation days go smoother with your former spouse immediately after divorce.

Embrace Flexibility

Your marriage may not have worked because of strong wills that led to irreconcilable differences, but your child visitation agreement does not have to travel down the same path. Discussing a schedule that works best for both parties and being willing to accommodate your former partner's schedule is the key to success.
Also, consider showing your ex-spouse mercy when he is a few minutes late picking up or dropping off the kids. Perhaps he was held over at work, or maybe there was unexpected construction on the road that caused his tardiness. It is important to be flexible when working with varying schedules.

Do Not Disturb Your Former Spouse's Time with the Kids

How would you feel if your ex-spouse planned a trip to Disneyland with the kids on the weekend that you were supposed to have them? The largest part of child visitation rights involves the parties respecting each other's time.
Consider doing the following when surprise events arise and jeopardize your former spouse's visitation day:

• Contact your former partner immediately upon learning of the event
• Explain the situation and ask if he can incorporate the outing in his time spent with the kids
• If your ex-spouse already has plans, then consider rescheduling the surprise occasion altogether
• Tell your former partner if the event is mandatory and offer a sincere apology for the disruption
• Offer your ex-spouse the opportunity to meet on a non-scheduled day to make up for the lost visitation day

You should never demand your ex-spouse surrender his day so that your plans with the kids can proceed. After all, you are technically infringing upon his right to spend quality time with his children.

Never Say Negative Things about Your Former Spouse Around the Kids

He may be a habitual liar who makes promises that he cannot keep, but your children don't need to know that. You should always serve as the mediator between your ex-partner and his children and encourage peace in all instances. Do not shed light on the fact that he promised to take them to Knott's Berry Farm but instead gave them a picnic at the local park when the kids are in the room. Such negativity presents him as someone who is unreliable, and the kids may begin losing trust.

It is your job as parents to act in a manner that is most befitting for your child's growth and development. Harmoniously co-parenting is the best way to help kids cope with the reality of a broken home after divorce.


About the Author:
David Pedrazas is a premier divorce and family law attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah Law School in 1997, and has been practicing for over 14 years in the areas of divorce, child support, child custody, paternity, alimony, property division, and parent time.

Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC
3325 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-263-7078