Is Nesting a Viable Solution for Co-Parenting?
So you’ve heard of something called nesting in a divorce and custody case. Is it a good solution? Hi, I’m Tulsa Dads.Law attorney Clint Hastings. I practice here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I focus on fathers’ rights, and this is my 25th year of practice.
Challenges of Nesting
Nesting isn’t something I see often, but I have seen it in a couple of cases. Essentially, nesting means keeping a central house where the children stay full-time, and the parents rotate in and out to spend their time with the kids.
At first, this can sound like a good idea, but it comes with challenges. It works best if the divorce wasn’t hostile, because you’ll still need to communicate and coordinate constantly about the house, schedules, and responsibilities. A true nesting arrangement often requires another residence—like a shared apartment—that both parents rotate through when they’re not at the main home. That makes things even more complicated and requires a very strong co-parenting relationship.
Financial Considerations
Think about the potential conflicts: dishes left in the sink, unpaid utility bills, or disagreements over how the house is maintained. Some families try a variation, like two apartments plus the main home, but of course that can get very expensive. Still, in today’s world with high interest rates and refinancing challenges, nesting may actually save money compared to each parent buying a separate home.
It can also affect child support. Since neither parent is the sole custodial parent in the nesting home, child support arrangements might need to be adjusted so that the costs of the central household are covered fairly.
Consultation on Nesting and Other Custody Issues
For some families, this arrangement does work—particularly when both parents get along well, don’t hold resentment, and truly want to cooperate for their children. But if the divorce is high-conflict, nesting usually isn’t realistic long-term.
All right, I hope this helps. If you have questions about nesting or any other custody or divorce issues, give Tulsa men’s child custody attorney Clint Hastings a call at 918-962-0900. We’ll be glad to help you out.
