If your former partner has issues with your children seeing your new partner, there isn’t much they can do legally to stop your children seeing your new partner, unless there are safeguarding concerns; but there are a few steps you can take to try to resolve the issue.
- Going to mediation can help, as it gives your ex a chance to express any concerns or issues they have and explain why they feel this way. Remember to give your ex a chance to speak and answer any questions they may have for you. Go into mediation open minded and listen to what your ex has to say about the situation, remember to put aside any personal feelings and think about what’s best for your children. You can use this opportunity to talk about what your new partner’s role will be in your children’s life (if any at all).
- Some parents agree on making a parenting plan so each parent can discuss what is expected of them during the time they will have children, a parenting plan will also set out who will have the children on what days and for how long, living arrangements, where the children will be collected and dropped off ect. Parenting plans are not legally binding so they can be changed if needed but they can be very useful to help each parent understand what is expected of them and when they will have their children. This can also help your ex understand what your new partner’s role will be in your children’s lives and what is expected of them. Click here to read Wikivorce's own parenting plan.
- If there are no safeguarding issues such as if your ex suspects your new partner is mistreating your children then there’s nothing they can do legally, meaning you need to sort this issue out between yourselves rather than going to court.
