Co-parenting by Design
The Definitive Guide for Divorced or Separated Parents
By attorneys and parenting coordinators, Annette T. Burns, JD and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner, JD
Publication Date: December 2024
The Definitive Guide for Divorced or Separated Parents
By attorneys and parenting coordinators, Annette T. Burns, JD and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner, JD
Publication Date: December 2024
The Definitive Guide for Divorced or Separated Parents
By attorneys and parenting coordinators, Annette T. Burns, JD and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner, JD
Publication Date: December 2024
Co-parenting by Design is also available as an e-book.
“The truth is, the way we choose to co-parent will shape our children’s healing and their ability to navigate relationships in the future. For any parent facing this journey, this book is a powerful reminder that our children’s hearts deserve the greatest care, even when our own are breaking.”
In Co-parenting by Design, Family law experts Annette Burns and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner help divorced or separated parents agree on a plan that reduces conflict over the parenting schedule, holidays, vacations, medical decisions, education, and safety, and equips readers to deal with special situations like parental alienation and substance abuse.
Description
It’s stressful to be a divorced or separated parent. You may feel that you’re constantly being scrutinized by your co-parent and by the court system. You are expected to be superhuman: to forgive and forget, to be endlessly patient, to be a perfect parent, and to be calm and gracious no matter what. If you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone.
In Co-parenting by Design, Annette Burns and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner offer their combined sixty-plus years of experience in family law to help you let go of these unrealistic expectations and successfully navigate the challenges of parenting after divorce or separation. With customizable sample language you can incorporate in your own document, this book makes it easy to draw up a thorough and effective parenting plan or evaluate a plan provided by a parenting coordinator or other court official.
You’ll learn how to
come to an agreement about the parenting schedule, holidays, and vacations
address medical decisions, education, safety, your child’s possessions, and more
deal with challenging situations like parental alienation, domestic violence, or your co-parent’s substance abuse
disengage from conflict
communicate effectively
reduce stress
increase your child’s sense of security by conveying solidarity
protect your child’s well-being
With a complete parenting plan in place, you’ll be prepared to manage everyday routines and handle the unexpected. Co-parenting by Design helps you overcome conflict and get back to what matters most: enjoying stress-free time with your child.
Book Details
Publication date: December 17, 2024
Pages: 232
Binding: Paperback
ISBN (print): 978-1950057429
ISBN (ebook): 978-1950057436
Authors: Annette T. Burns, JD and Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner
The Authors
Annette Burns, JD, is an attorney and a certified Family Law Specialist and Parenting Coordinator, practicing in Arizona. She is a past president of the international interdisciplinary organization, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), a nonprofit organization of over 5000 international family law related professionals. She has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), a national organization composed of the nation's top attorneys since 2001. She has been named a SuperLawyer every year from 2007-2020 and one of Superlawyers' Arizona's Top Female Attorneys in 2013, 2014 and 2019. She is the co-author of BIFF for Co-Parent Communication with high-conflict expert Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. and co-parenting expert, Kevin Chafin, LPC. Her private practice in Arizona focuses on family law. Annette lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner, JD, is a family law attorney, mediator, and court-appointed Parenting Coordinator. She previously worked with Child Protective Services and a domestic violence shelter before transitioning to legal practice. After managing a non-profit organization's legal department, Nicole immersed herself in family law as an associate attorney and later as a partner in a Phoenix, Arizona firm. As a judge pro tem and trained Parenting Coordinator, Nicole serves the legal community by facilitating Alternative Dispute Resolution conferences and conducting private mediations. She is an effective advocate for clients after her tenure as a judicial officer in the Maricopa County Superior Court and a participant on the Maricopa County Superior Court Mental Health Roster. She is an award-winning jurist with experience teaching family law courses at local institutions.
What People Are Saying About Co-parenting by Design
“In Co-Parenting by Design, Annette and Nicole have defined and described the realities of co-parenting—with all its ups and downs—in detail, as only experienced family lawyers can do (60 years between them!). They explain common difficulties on up to the high conflict behaviors of child abuse, domestic violence, and parental alienation. Then, they go into great detail about what to do in every possible conflict situation, including the use of parallel parenting, managed emails (including the BIFF method, of course), and parenting schedules. In addition, there is sample language that they offer which can be included in parenting plans. I do a lot of consultations with parents involved in high conflict cases and they often ask for specific language they can use in their agreements or proposed court orders. Coming from these experienced family lawyers, these sample paragraphs are a very useful add-on in making the book highly practical—and helpful in reducing conflict. Another plus is the detailed list of resources at the end, which will save readers a lot of research. I will be recommending this book to many of my consultation clients. ”
“A tremendously useful, Co-parenting by Design delivers practical strategies, evidence-based advice (including references), and word-for-word clauses that can be used in co-parenting plans and similar documents and agreements. The authors, seasoned family law attorneys, speak with realism and reassurance. They give us ample down-to-earth examples of how their specific solutions effectively reduce and prevent conflict and stress. Written for divorcing parents who range from co-operative to high-conflict, at a critical juncture in their child-rearing, this book opens doors for their children to thrive.”