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Specialty tag(s): Divorce for Women, Divorce

Navigating Divorce as a Working Mom

Lindsey Obenhaus | July 17, 2023

In her recent appearance on the “Texas Family Law Insiders” podcast, attorney Lindsey Obenhaus explains the nuances of divorcing as a working mom. 

How Does a Working Mom Create a Child Possession Schedule?

When both parents work full-time, the Standard Possession Order may not be the best option. It’s important for working moms to be transparent about how the Standard Possession Order can or can’t fit into their schedule. Using the Standard Possession Order as a starting point, working moms can collaborate with their co-parent and a family law attorney to create a customized parenting schedule that works effectively for the unique needs of their family. 

How Can a Working Mom Stay Organized with Her Parenting Schedule?

There are many parenting apps available that can help organize the schedules of co-parents who work full-time. Not only do these apps help organize a parenting schedule, but they also foster an environment that keeps communication open and conflict out of the picture. In addition, using free tools like Google Calendar can also be beneficial for co-parents.

Below is a list of websites and apps that you can use to manage your communications and schedules with your co-parent:

• Our Family Wizard is one of the most common applications parents use with co-parenting issues. It allows them to communicate with each other in a way that all the messages are stored in one place.
• Google Calendar allows both parents to upload different events onto the calendar and see it in real-time.
• Imazing, allows you to export all text messages between you and another person at one time into one PDF. 
• Marco Polo allows you to share pictures and videos with your co-parent. Marco Polo is a great app because it allows the children to record videos of themselves and send them to their parent, but they don’t have to be responding in real-time. 
• Custody Exchange is a great app for parents to use when they’re trying to decide what parenting schedule is best for their family. Their website includes lots of different samples of ways to divide parenting time in a visual manner.

How Can a Working Mom Best Handle Unexpected Schedule Changes?

The unexpected is expected in parenting; no matter how co-parents have organized their schedules. For example, if a child needs to be picked up from school early because they have a fever, the parent with the custodial time that day is responsible for picking up the child. Not every job is flexible, so it’s important for working moms to discuss their parenting situation with their employer to devise a plan that works for them. 

How is Property Division Impacted if Both Spouses Work? 

Property division is not always 50/50, even when both spouses work. It’s important to work with an experienced family law attorney to analyze the economic impact of what each spouse brings to the table. Assuming that both spouses are in the workforce, but have vastly different economic outcomes, property division can be shifted depending on earning powers, earning potential post-divorce, assets received, and childcare responsibilities. Assuming both professionals earn roughly the same earning power and earning potential post-divorce, then the property division is likely going to be more of an equal split.

Learn More

Lindsey has been named D Magazine’s Best Lawyer for three consecutive years and has also been included among the magazine’s Top Lawyers Under 40 for two consecutive years. Lindsey is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and was selected to be a member of the 2020 Dallas Bar Association Women’s Empowered to Lead Program and the 2021 State Bar of Texas Leadership SBOT Program. She is known for her experience in complex property division and asset tracing, challenging child custody cases, addiction and mental illness, domestic abuse, and pre-or post-marital agreements.

If you are a working mom facing divorce and have questions about the divorce process, please contact Lindsey Obenhaus.

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