Can an App Help Texas Co-Parents Navigate a Parenting Plan?

 Posted on October 08, 2024 in Child custody

Parents — especially those whose divorce was not particularly friendly — may find themselves navigating one landmine after another as they attempt to co-parent their children. First, custody and visitation must be determined, and then years are spent learning how to do what is best for the children while keeping one's own stability intact.

Technology has provided some beneficial ways to make co-parenting and following a parenting plan much easier, with less stress and fewer arguments. Speaking to a highly skilled Hurst, TX family lawyer from Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. is also important, as there are many parenting resources you, your ex, and your child can benefit from.

What are the Five Most Popular Apps for Divorced Parents?

Co-parenting is challenging, no doubt about it. There can be scheduling issues, miscommunications, and consistently working together with your ex for the good of your child. Below, the most popular apps for divorced parents who are doing their best to work together are listed:

1. Our Family Wizard is the most popular app for divorced parents. It allows collaboration on shared schedules and management of virtually every facet of co-parenting. Judges in 45 states have ordered this app for parents with child custody disputes. Families can share events, expenses, messages, and calendars and can even add professional accounts for mediators, therapists, and more. There is an optional add-on to Our Family Wizard that is billed as an "emotional spell check," which picks up on negative tones and offers alternative language.  

2.  Fayr is a parenting app that assists parents in managing busy family lives. The app features a file vault to store medical records, receipts, legal documents, and other valuable documentation, a geo pin to leave indisputable evidence that you were where you said you were, and a time-sharing calendar to allow parents to track one another’s schedules effectively and plan parenting time accordingly.

3. DComply is one of the best apps for divorced parents who share expenses for their children. Using DComply, you can send bills for doctor’s co-pays, record out-of-pocket expenses, file disputes in the app, and pay and track child support from your phone. You will never have to scramble to find receipts again. DComply makes your childcare finances trackable so the division of costs remains fair.

4. Talking Parents offers online communication for co-parents, allowing you to record all communications with your ex. Talking Parents is ideal if you need to supply proof of correspondence in court. Coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs and keeping track of important dates and shared expenses are also part of the Talking Parents app.

5. 2Houses allows divorced parents to share information, medical notes, news, school schedules, photos, videos, and more. Messaging with mediator access, document storage, and an expense management platform makes this one of the best co-parenting apps around.

Can an App Really Help My Ex and I Co-Parent More Peacefully?

Co-parenting apps can simplify, organize, and document, but perhaps most importantly, they are a neutral platform that can significantly reduce conflict. Many of these parenting apps can give both parents a clearer picture of what each adult is spending on the children and where financial gaps exist. Audio calls, GPS check-ins, photo sharing, video calls, shared expenses and child support, and a parenting time calendar are all features that can make your co-parenting journey less stressful.

Rather than dealing with an annoying call from your ex that is likely to escalate, you only get notifications from the app – and you answer in the app. Everything is on the record, with no extra effort. Since messages cannot be edited or deleted, the apps create a digital paper trail that can be invaluable.  

Contact a Tarrant County, TX Custody and Visitation Lawyer

Anything parents can do to make their co-parenting experience more peaceful and efficient is a good step forward. If you have co-parenting issues, speaking to a Hurst, TX custody and visitation attorney from Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. is one of the best things you can do. Attorney Dan Bacalis is a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist who can answer your questions and help you through these difficult times. Call 817-498-4105 to schedule a free consultation.