The needs of families going through divorce or child custody issues on Long Island have changed over the years, and fortunately, technology has caught up. Forget paper calendars that mark when your ex gets the kids and when they’re supposed to bring them back. Forget writing down every single thing your ex says during a phone conversation in case you need it later. Co-parenting apps exist and are often endorsed by Long Island courts, making it easier than ever to keep track of timesharing and communication between you and your ex. Here’s how co-parenting apps can help make your Long Island divorce smoother.

Benefits of Co-Parenting Apps

Although most co-parenting apps do have a cost, which is usually around $100 per year per user, they can be well worth the investment. Here are some benefits that divorcing parents can experience when they use an app to help them manage communication and timesharing.

A Central Calendar

With a central calendar, there’s no wondering if both parents know about the upcoming soccer game on Saturday morning, or the band recital in two weeks. Doctor’s appointments, birthdays, and other special events can be added to the calendar, so there are no discrepancies about whether or not one parent was notified of an event or not.

The calendar also keeps track of timesharing, so each parent knows when and where to pick their child up, how long the child is with them, and when and where to drop their child off. With a co-parenting app, there’s little to no confusion about whose weekend it is or when the child should be dropped off on any given day. Some apps allow for logging pick up and drop off times, so there’s evidence if a parent is consistently late or does not take the court-appointed time with their child.

Communication Can’t Be Edited by Either Party

The messages you send to and from your ex cannot be edited by either of you and vice versa. So communication is recorded and stored with dates and time stamps, and cannot be altered by anyone once it is sent via the app. This can be very valuable in cases of he said/she said, and it can also be helpful in cases where you may need to prove that you’ve been threatened or harassed.

Communication is also in real-time. Most, if not all, co-parenting apps send an alert to the user’s phone so they can log in and check their messages as soon as possible, much like a text or social media message. Some apps also offer read receipts, so you know if a message has been seen by the other party or not.

Invoice Tracking

Some co-parenting apps include the ability to track expenses and invoices related to the children. Although the non-custodial parent is likely paying child support, that may not be everything needed to cover expenses for the child. Medical co-pays or costs for extracurricular activities are good examples of things that are considered outside the coverage of child support — child support is meant to reimburse the primary custodian for basic needs like food and shelter.

A co-parenting app can help parents keep track of extra expenses and can allow parties to send invoices to one another and mark them as paid when the other parent has paid their portion of the expense. In cases where one party is not meeting their financial obligations, invoice tracking can be very helpful in providing evidence.

Dealing with Child Custody? Get Legal Help Today

See this page to learn everything you need to know about Child Custody and Visitation on Long Island.

If you’re dealing with child custody matters, apps aren’t all you need. Strong legal advocacy is even more important, especially during the early stages when custody arrangements are being established. Our Long Island divorce law firm is highly experienced in resolving custody cases, and we make sure your child’s best interests are protected at all times.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your family’s needs during this difficult time by calling 631-923-1910 We can not only help recommend quality co-parenting apps you can use based on your individual circumstances, but can also offer you sound legal advice as to what your next steps should be. Call now to book your appointment and rest assured that we will fight for your family.