The Complexities of Co-Parenting: A Legal Perspective

Attorneys Sarah Hink and Elizabeth Stevenson return from a hiatus on the Exit Strategy podcast to discuss why custody is often the hardest part of divorce and separation, including the emotional challenge of sharing time with children. They explain that in the North Carolina counties where they practice, courts often start from a 50/50 assumption tied to the child’s best interests and a relationship with both parents, then look for reasons to deviate such as domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health concerns, lack of involvement, or inconsistency. They cover tools like temporary arrangements, tiered custody schedules with treatment requirements, reunification therapy, custody/parent fitness evaluations, guardians ad litem, parent coordinators, and parallel parenting. They warn against false abuse claims, alienation, and putting children in the middle, noting records can follow families and even be found online later. 00:00 Welcome Back Intro 00:20 Why Custody Gets Heated 00:43 Facing 50 50 Reality 01:57 Courts Start at 50 50 02:40 Give Them a Chance 03:32 Custody Can Change 04:00 Tiered Plans and Reunification 05:35 Evaluations and Expert Help 06:55 Parallel Parenting Tools 07:31 Kids Feel the Conflict 08:57 Legal Custody Decision Making 09:42 Third Parties Can Sue 10:11 Domestic Violence Impact 11:10 False Claims Backfire 11:56 Online Records and Kids Testifying 13:23 Parental Alienation Consequences 14:08 Honesty and Realistic Outcomes 16:08 Wrap Up and Final Thoughts