It can be difficult to face the reality when your former spouse has started a new relationship, particularly if you share custody of your children.
In all likelihood, your ex’s new partner will be part of your children’s lives so it is important to find healthy ways to approach co-parenting with a new person in the mix.
As long as your ex’s partner has the children’s best interests at heart, the kids can benefit from having an enlarged, positive adult support system around them.
If all goes well, your co-parent’s new partner is likely to find a place in your children’s hearts, which may feel a bit threatening, but they won’t replace your role as a parent.
Although your co-parent’s new partner may play a major role as a caregiver for your children, when it comes to making important decisions for your kids, the responsibility still rests on your and your co-parent’s shoulders.
There are advantages to having another person who cares about your kids when making decisions, however. They are not only a sounding board for your ex, but they may also have constructive insight to add to the decisions you and your ex are making on behalf of the kids.
Ultimately, the needs and best interests of the children should come first and once you and your co-parent make decisions on behalf of your kids, your co-parent and their partner should help enforce whatever change may be in place so the kids can benefit from consistency across both households.
Of course, it is not always a good fit when a new person gets involved with the kids. In some circumstances, there may be concerns about your ex’s partner with regard to the children that cannot be worked out.
Child Custody and Support Modification Lawyer
In cases where you feel that the children’s best interests are in jeopardy, you may want to discuss your options with a family law attorney. It may be possible to revisit the custody or visitation arrangements to improve situation for the children.
Libertyville Illionis Child Custody Lawyer
If you have questions regarding child custody, visitation or another family law matter, contact the Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell PC for help. We are sensitive to the delicacy of issues regarding children in family law matters and will work toward a workable resolution for the benefit of your family.