Co-parenting support
Co-parenting with someone who has been abusive is not the same as regular co-parenting. Parallel parenting — where you minimize direct contact and communicate only through documented channels — is often a safer and healthier approach.
What to know first
- 'Co-parenting' assumes two cooperative people. If that isn't safe or realistic, 'parallel parenting' means you each parent independently with minimal direct contact.
- Keep all communication about your children in writing. It creates a record and reduces the opportunity for conflict or manipulation.
- Apps like OurFamilyWizard and TalkingParents log all messages and can't be edited after the fact. Courts recognize and accept these records.
- Supervised access centres provide a safe, neutral location for custody exchanges or supervised visits. You don't need to see or speak to the other parent.
- Canada's Divorce Act requires courts to consider family violence in all parenting orders. Document everything. It matters.
- A parenting coordinator can help manage disputes without going back to court every time.