As a parent of minor children, one of the hardest things — if not the hardest thing — about deciding whether to divorce is the knowledge that if you go ahead, it will typically reduce the amount of time you get to see your children
In most circumstances, a court will want to see that the children spend time with both you and their other parent. While there are exceptions, that is the general rule. How the time will be split can vary, and it may involve the children moving between houses or just living with one parent while the other parent gets visitation rights.
When your children will spend some or all of the time living with their other parent, it’s important to remember that there could be occasions when this is inconvenient for your co-parent. They may have things they need or want to do that they won’t be able to if they have to look after the children. This is where you could step in to help and get some more time with your children in the process.
Right of first refusal
Many parents put a clause in their divorce paperwork giving each other the right of first refusal for childcare. It means that if your coparent needs someone to look after the kids for a while, they must ask you first. You should decide between you how it will work. For instance, you could make it a rule only for overnight stays, or from a few hours upwards. The parent being asked is free to say yes or no on each occasion, as it won’t always be convenient for them.
Learning more about how to include this as part of your parenting agreement can set the ground for a better coparenting relationship. Having sound legal guidance will help.
