Benefits of Using a Co-Parenting App

From making joint decisions, coordinating schedules, and communicating effectively, co-parenting can be an emotional and logistical challenge. However, there are a number of co-parenting apps that are available to help co-parents manage communication, stay organized, and keep emotions out of the equation. These tools can provide co-parents with a neutral platform to reduce conflict and prevent misunderstandings, even in contentious child custody matters.

Some of the major benefits of using a co-parenting app to navigate your custody situation can include the following:

Help Keep Co-Parents Organized

Sharing parenting responsibilities across two different households can be difficult. Parents need to be on the same page about scheduling and child-related finances. They also need to have access to important information about the child’s education and healthcare to be able to make shared decisions.

Co-parenting apps with the following features can help reduce some of the stress that can come with trying to stay organized:

• Shared calendar: Shared calendars can help ensure both parents are kept in the loop about the child’s after school activities, appointments, and special events. It can also ensure parents can easily track custody exchanges and parenting time.
• Expense tracking: Parents can log and track all child-related expenses to ensure fairness when splitting costs for things such as medical bills, tuition, extracurricular activities, and other costs.
• Document storage: Co-parenting apps can be used to store medical records, school records, and other documentation so that both parents can easily access the information.

Some apps also have an “info bank” that can allow for quick access to important information regarding a child’s allergies, immunizations, photos, and medical history.

Minimize the Need for Direct Communication Between Co-Parents

One of the biggest benefits of using a co-parenting app is that it minimizes the need for direct communication between parents. Not only can communicating with a co-parent through an app reduce the potential for conflict, but it can also help prevent misunderstandings. In addition, if tone is an issue in texts or emails, there are co-parenting apps available that use artificial intelligence to detect whether a message sounds too confrontational or contains hostile language.

Keep Emotions Out of Day-to-Day Custody Issues and Decision-Making

Co-parenting apps can allow parents to keep emotional distance from each other. Rather than a parent reacting in the moment to their co-parent over the phone or through text, an app can serve as a “digital buffer.” By providing a platform to structure (and limit) communication, a parent can take the time they need to craft a thoughtful response that focuses on their child, rather than on the conflict with their co-parent.

Increase Accountability for Co-Parents

By maintaining a log of all communications between co-parents, an app can help ensure each parent is held accountable for their responsibilities and actions. All activity in the co-parenting app is time-stamped and cannot be edited, reducing the potential for one parent to claim the conversation was different than the one that occurred. Some apps even provide “read” receipts to prevent ignored messages.

Create a Record for a Contentious Custody Case

Co-parenting apps can create a documented record of all communications and interactions between co-parents. These records can be used in court in the event of a custody dispute to demonstrate what was said and when. Co-parenting apps can offer crucial evidence against false claims. They can also be used to substantiate a claim. Specifically, co-parenting apps can provide an unalterable and objective record that shows either proof of compliance with the parenting plan, or a parent’s violation of the custody order.

Keep a Child Out of the Middle of Parental Conflict

Co-parenting apps can facilitate direct communication between co-parents without the need for involving the child. By centralizing communication and ensuring it remains private, a co-parenting app can help keep a child from witnessing conflict between their parents. It can also prevent parents from using the child as messengers to relay information between houses, which can cause stress, anxiety, and confusion for the child.

Promote a Healthy Co-Parenting Relationship

By providing a structured platform, ensuring transparency, and reducing the potential for misunderstandings that can lead to conflict, a co-parenting app can help to promote a healthy co-parenting relationship. Co-parenting apps can help encourage respect, improve communication, and create a supportive environment for a child.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Family Law Attorney

If you are facing an issue concerning child custody or parenting time, a knowledgeable family law attorney can help you find solutions and ensure the best interests of your child are met. At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, our Fulton, Maryland family law attorneys provide compassionate counsel and reliable representation for divorce and a wide range of family law matters. All of our attorneys are trained in collaborative divorce, mediation, and traditional divorce litigation. To schedule a confidential consultation, call us at (301) 658-7354 or contact us online.