‘Birdnesting’ Gains Popularity Among Divorced Couples

A recent feature story in the New York Post outlines a practice that is gaining popularity among some divorced couples in New York and New Jersey — and is likely to spread to other areas in the country.

It’s called “birdnesting,” an arrangement in which the children stay in one home and it’s the adults who move around. The idea behind such an arrangement is that it reduces the amount of turbulence the kids would otherwise experience by moving from house to house every few days.

This setup was brought into the limelight by several celebrity couples, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin and Anne Dudek and Matthew Heller. According to the article, lawyers throughout New York City say more couples are asking for more information on the concept and whether it could actually be a legitimate option.

A concept with drawbacks

Although the primary benefit is that it makes the transition into divorced life easier for the children than a typical arrangement, it can make things a lot harder on the parents. If the arrangement has not been planned well, the parents could each end up feeling “homeless” in a sense, as they never spend more than a few days at a time in each location and do not truly get to settle into a place of their own.

Parents must also determine how they will split costs. They will likely have to be able to pay for an apartment or studio of their own, in addition to their share of the home they already own together. This means the concept is likely not an option for people who are not fairly well off financially.

Still, it is at least an interesting take on divorce that could make co-parenting easier if the two parents have at least somewhat of an amicable relationship. It will be interesting to see if the trend remains in vogue for long — or if it’s more of a passing fad.

For the guidance and advice you need related to child custody and divorce, work with a dedicated family law attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.