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Benefits and dangers of using co-parenting apps

New apps used by local courts

ROANOKE, Va. ā€“ As local courtrooms are ordering parents in custody battles to use co-parenting apps, 10 News looked into the pros and cons of their usage.

ā€œOur Family Wizardā€ is one of several apps now available on the app store for people co-parenting in volatile situations.

ā€œHaving practiced family law myself, I know that sometimes what starts out as a pretty smooth sailing between parents can go awry,ā€ Danielle Kestnbaum of the co-parenting app OurFamilyWizard, said.

The apps are free or paid. You can sign up on your own, but local judges also order parents in a dispute having difficulty communicating to use one.

They allow you to have limited contact with your ex ā€” only talking about whatā€™s necessary through recorded phone calls or texts.

ā€œNone of the communication can be altered or deleted in any way,ā€ Kestnbaum said. ā€œFolks tend to move to their best behavior because theyā€™re aware that everything that they write can be seen by a judge or a lawyer.ā€

The apps have multiple functions. You can make payments, share medical records and have your location tracked when meeting up with your childā€™s parent.

ā€œWe have GPS-enabled check-in feature where they can show where theyā€™ve arrived,ā€ Kestnbaum said. ā€œOne of the big things is that they do not have to have one anotherā€™s email or phone number.ā€

Roanokeā€™s Total Action for Progress (TAP) warns an app should never be a substitution for safety planning, such as meeting at a supervised safe exchange zone, or trying to develop conflict resolution skills.


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