When Colorado couples started their families, they probably felt as though their marriages would last forever. Unfortunately, at some point, the marital relationship soured, and one or both spouses decided that divorce would be the best course of action. Even if at least some of those couples want to co-parent, their relationship may not allow them to do so, in which case they may want to consider parallel parenting for their custody and parenting time plans.
For those unfamiliar with parallel parenting, it allows couples in these circumstances to enjoy joint custody of their children without contact with the other parent. Of course, there will be times when parents will need to discuss an issue regarding the children, but those communications are not done in person. Instead, they communicate in an agreed-upon fashion, usually using some form of technology, such as email, texts or one of many parenting apps.
A parenting time schedule is outlined meticulously in order to prevent any potential disputes regarding who has the children and when. The plan also outlines how communication will occur, what happens when there are scheduling conflicts and more. Parents may also want to put in some general house rules in order to provide the children with some continuity, but otherwise, the parents are free to spend their time with the children unhindered and uninterrupted by the other parent as long as the children are not in danger.
Colorado parents who think that parallel parenting may work in their situation should not hesitate to try to work out an agreement that covers their custody and parenting time issues. It may be possible for them to negotiate their own agreement instead of relying on the court to do it, which would give them more control over the final product. There is help available for these parents to make sure their rights are protected and that they have some structure to their negotiations in order to do what they believe is best for their children.