How to Provide for the Kids Post-Divorce

We got an apartment and for the first nine months, my ex-husband and I went back and forth and the kids stayed in the house,” explains Paige, who's been divorced since 2006. “It was important for them not to leave their safety zone and we got a feeling for how tiring and crappy that was. It’s a good perspective thing for parents.”

Vasileff also recommends parties discuss what would happen in the event that one or both parents have new families, which she says is something very few people think about unless one party already has a serious new partner.

Paige suggests discussing what will be left to the children after the parents are deceased, especially if children from new marriages enter the picture.

“Don’t leave things vague. Things change, especially when a person gets a new significant other,” Paige says.

While no one can see into the future, anticipating expenses and deciding how to divide them can make things a lot less contentious down the line.