When the parents of children get divorced, effective co-parenting can be a major challenge. Although parenting is never easy, after a divorce, the parents must learn to manage different schedules, share time, contribute financially and otherwise pitch in with raising their children. Often after a divorce, the parents struggle with communication and may harbor negative feelings toward one another. This can further complicate the co-parenting relationship.
Fortunately, there is good news for parents grappling with co-parenting thanks to some innovative technology. New smart phone apps take a hands-on approach to the difficulties faced by divorced parents and attempt to smooth out disagreements through innovative techniques.
Collaborating through mobile apps
One of the most controversial issues for divorced parents relates to financial matters. Many of these parents agree to share miscellaneous expenses for their children, such as school supplies or clothing. However, they are often suspicious about these costs or simply cannot communicate without disagreeing. Cell phone apps take on this problem by allowing parents to share expense details without needing to actually talk about the transactions.
One app, called “Our Family Wizard,” allows parents to enter all of their children’s expenses, and they can even provide receipts as proof. Their particular cost-sharing formula calculates what each parent owes and shares the bottom line. For instance, if one parent has agreed to pay for 50 percent of the child’s school supplies, the other can enter a bill of $120 and the app will automatically charge the other parent $60. The parents even have the option of paying through the app, thereby cutting out unneeded communication entirely.
Although good co-parenting relationships involve peaceful communication between two parents, mobile apps like these can go a long way toward making things run more smoothly. That said, parents should still have sound custody and child support agreements in place. For the representation you need during and after a divorce, consult a dedicated Florida family law attorney.
Attorney Shane Herbert also contributed to this blog post.