Your Question
Hi Robyn, my husband and i are separated a year now – he has been residing with his parents while i have remained in our home. We have 2 boys who share there time between us in the 2 houses every 2nd day. Now my ex says he is moving back into the house as he believes this to be in the interest of our children, and he feels the parent who is minding them stays in the house that night and the other parent goes to their parents house. I am stressed at the thoughts of it. I know he has every right to move back in so i have been looking at our schedules with the kids and have decided to change it so that he has them at weekends and i have them during the week. That way there is minimal contact with each other. My question is what can i do if he disagrees with the change – and is there anything i can do to stop him moving in. We are 1 yr separated and i am going for a judicial separation /divorce as i don’t agree to sell the house and he wont sell it to me. Thanks in advance.
Answer
Hi there,
Thank you for getting in touch with Ask Robyn.
It sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment regarding your separation, and it can be difficult to know what steps to take next or where to find relevant information.
It’s clear that you both want to do what’s best for your boys by creating as stress-free an environment as possible while also setting a schedule that works for everyone. You asked what you can do if your ex disagrees with the change, and you mentioned that it would minimise contact between you both. Is this something you plan to discuss with him directly, or would you prefer to communicate through a third party?
If your ex does not agree with the new arrangement, it may be worth speaking with your solicitor about what legal options are available to you. As you are pursuing a judicial separation/divorce, a judge can make decisions regarding custody arrangements and matters related to the family home.
We have some additional resources that might be helpful in our Parenting Hub, including articles on shared parenting and maintaining positive contact with your children:
•How to manage shared parenting after a separation or divorce
•8 ways to maintain positive contact with your child after a separation or divorce
One Family also provides valuable information and support on family issues related to separation and divorce. You can find more details on their website: onefamily.ie/
If you need more guidance on the legal process, LawOnline offers explanations of key legal terms, resources, and documents: https://www.
If you would like further support, please feel free to reach out again with any follow-up questions. You are also very welcome to call our Parent Support Line at 01 522 4300 (open Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm) or email us at [email protected].
Take care,
Robyn
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