Communicate as openly as possible with the other parent

Children miss out on things when their parents can’t communicate. Failure to communicate with the other parent can be extremely detrimental to many aspects of your child’s life, including but not limited to medical care, education and social development.

The Court may take a negative view against you if you fail to try to communicate with the other parent. In children matters, the Court’s primary concern is the best interests of the child, on which all of its decisions will be based.

Thus, failure to communicate will translate to the Court that you are not willing to promote the relationship between the child and the other parent, being an essential part of parental bonding and social development.

If you find it difficult to correspond with the other parent, it’s wise to agree on one medium of communication that will minimise conflict, such as ‘Our Family Wizard’. Many parents find written communication elicits less emotion and keeps conversations more child-focused and appropriate.

If the Court considers that you are not willing to promote a relationship between the child and the other parent without good reason, there is a risk that the Court will say a shared care relationship can’t work. The other parent may then become the primary carer may be given sole responsibility for major decisions.