Building a Family-Friendly Home

When building a home, we often consider how to make our remodels more family-friendly. From adding safety railing around staircases to ensuring outlets are covered, the considerations are endless. One important aspect that sometimes is not considered is how family-friendly the legal aspects of a home are. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true. By understanding our rights and responsibilities within the home, we can organize the layout, and our actions, to ensure a safe and functional family setting.

As an example, when not married, parents in Colorado may consider the legal standards of comprehensive Colorado paternity laws in making decisions for the children while living in the household. In Colorado, unless we have a court order stating otherwise, if the child is born to unmarried parents, the mother has care, custody, and control of the children, regardless of their age. This is an important fact to note, because as a 20 year veteran parenting adult, I can tell you that it is extremely beneficial for the children to have access to both parents, even at the expense of a parent who has had difficulties in life. The importance of having two parents around cannot be overstated!

So we return to the idea of building a home to establish a family. We make decisions on flooring, bathroom fixtures, paint colors and kitchen appliances. But are we also considering how the layout of the home and furniture we purchase in the months after settlement will impact our relationships and perhaps spend time fighting over time with the children?

Now consider that the Colorado Paternity Law requires that in the absence of a court order, the mother alone gets to make decisions over the care, custody and control of the children. This means that we need to think about how the decisions we are making in designing a new household may be “interfering” with the bond, even as simple as putting a divider in a room with two chaise lounges with a center table.

Yes, it is a unique consideration which isn’t often thought about when we are in a household design mode. But it is critical to note that just because we are not married to someone today, does not mean that we may not be married someday. Perhaps the home you are designing may be your relationship starter home. Or, perhaps the house will be sold within a year (as I did with my first home). Regardless, it is important to make household decisions with a forethought to the impact that education of the laws will have on everyday actions in the major living spaces.

So the next time you are about to start a home project, consider all of the easy options that the builder tries to push on you without a lot of thought or consideration. Look for builders who are trying to provide you with safety and security options which are focused on the long term stability and safety of the family. We do this by having security cameras, by having safety gates, by ensuring outlets are covered, and by working with companies that provide safe spaces in the years ahead.