Moving After Divorce How to Keep Co-Parenting in Mind When Relocating

Divorce is difficult for everyone, and one of the hardest parts as a parent is having to relocate. When moving after your divorce, it’s important to keep your children’s best interests at heart to help them discover their new lives and to make co-parenting easier for you and your ex.

Once your divorce is finalized, you’ll first have to decide who will be keeping the marital home. It is important to be as objective as possible during this process to make sure that whoever ends up with the home can afford it on their own. Whoever doesn’t end up with the house will then have to move. Below are some things to keep in mind when moving after your divorce.

Decide Where to Move

Deciding where you’ll move is probably the most important part of this journey, especially when it comes to co-parenting. Depending on your custody agreement, you’ll most likely want to find a place that is close to the other parent’s location. This will make sharing custody much easier, as well as allow you to spend quality time with your children when you do see them, rather than having a lengthy car ride to drop them off each time. You’ll also be closer to their current school to make attending any functions easier.

Renting vs. Buying

Deciding whether you should rent or buy a home is a big decision, each with its own list of advantages and disadvantages. Renting will allow you more flexibility as well as less commitment. You may want to rent in a certain location to see if it’s a great fit for you and your children before you commit to moving there permanently. Another advantage of renting is that you typically don’t have to worry about any of the upkeep that is associated with owning.

If you decide buying a house is right for you, you’ll want to look into home loan rates to determine how much house you can afford. Depending on the market, you can opt for a 15-year or 30-year mortgage. A 15-year allows for lower interest overall, with a higher monthly payment; whereas a 30-year allows for higher interest long-term, but a lower monthly payment. Purchasing a home also gives you the freedom to customize whatever you want, allowing your children to adjust to their new space more quickly.

Allow Time to Adjust

It can take years for a family to adjust to a divorce. During this period of change, it’s crucial to give your kids plenty of time to grow accustomed to their new lives. They’ll often times feel confused about the changes they are dealing with, and that’s ok. Give them the opportunity to explore their new space and make it their own. It’s crucial that you keep open lines of communication with them, but also give them the freedom they need to adjust.

Navigating both moving and co-parenting after a divorce can be a difficult process. Make sure that you keep your children’s best interests at heart to help ease them into their new normal as seamlessly as possible.