Parents Using Their Children as Negotiation Tool Custody, visitation, and child support should never be used as a negotiating tool when in a breakup. Although these issues seem like the best way to strike back at the other parent, each one of them carry harmful repercussions on a child. There is one simple rule to follow: All decisions that are made regarding a child, including but not limited to custody, visitation and support, should be made with his or her best interests in mind. Lower child support, for example, should not be bargained away for a car, or joint custody traded away for a house. These financial calculations may sound legitimate, but what is best for the child is not part of the equation. Parents should decide on the custody arrangements prior to any discussion about the division of any marital property. They should negotiate visitation and child support together and never mix these two issues with other elements, such as debts, loans, the mortgage, alimony. Custody arrangements should never be announced until both parents agree. Table of Contents

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