Even if you are going through a contested divorce and fighting with your soon-to-be ex-spouse about property division, you may have already settled child custody. If you have decided to have joint legal custody with shared parenting time, hashing out as many details as possible about the arrangement may help you avoid future co-parenting conflicts.
When drafting your parenting plan, you and your children’s other parent likely have broad flexibility to address a variety of issues. Along with covering parenting schedules, schools, medical care and other important matters, you may want to select a location for your child custody transfer.
What is a child custody transfer?
If you and your ex-spouse are going to have scheduled parenting time, you must meet to swap the kids when the parenting time starts and ends. Your custody transfer is likely to be a brief meeting in a place that works for both you and your ex-spouse.
What makes a good transfer site?
While many custody transfer locations may work in theory, the right one for you and your family is likely to be safe, convenient and neutral. To choose a safe site, look for a place that is appropriate for the timing of your custody transfer. If the site becomes inadequate during certain times of the year, you may need to designate a primary and a backup transfer location.
Because you and your ex-spouse should share the burden of reaching the custody site, you probably also want to designate a location that is about equidistant between your homes or places of employment. At least initially, however, you may not want to transfer the kids at either your house or your ex-spouse’s.
Finding the location of your custody transfer may not be difficult. Ultimately, if you and your ex-spouse can reach common ground on the matter, you may have an easier time settling other custody-related issues.