Couple's Open Marriage Experiment Leads to Divorce, Creative Custody Solution
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A long-term married couple's attempt at an open marriage to save their relationship ended in divorce. They ultimately agreed to a "nesting" arrangement for their teenage children and an equal division of assets.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Couple divorced after open marriage experiment failed.
- They agreed to a "nesting" arrangement for their children.
- The nesting plan allows children to stay in the family home.
- Parents will alternate living in the home until the youngest son turns 21.
- The couple equally divided significant financial assets and savings.
- Mediation facilitated creative solutions for the divorce settlement.
A couple married for over 20 years, who owned an apartment in central Israel and held senior positions, decided to experiment with an open marriage in an attempt to rekindle their relationship. The wife initiated the idea, hoping it would restore passion to their marriage. Initially, the plan seemed successful. They established clear rules, including informing each other about dates and promising not to fall in love with anyone else.
The wife reported enjoying the newfound freedom and felt she was flourishing while dating other men. However, the husband developed a serious relationship with another woman and fell in love with her. This development marked a turning point. When the wife realized the situation had escalated beyond casual encounters, she requested to end the open marriage and return to their previous life.
Despite her wishes, the husband felt there was no going back and soon after asked for a divorce. The couple opted for mediation rather than a legal battle. Their primary disputes involved their shared apartment and their two teenage children. Through mediation, they reached a "nesting" agreement for the children, meaning the kids would remain in the family home while the parents rotated their living arrangements there.
This nesting arrangement is set to continue until their youngest son turns 21, after which the apartment will be sold. Regarding their assets, the couple, who had significant investments and savings, divided all their financial assets equally. Each retained the pension rights they had accumulated individually over the years. The case highlights the unpredictable outcomes of open marriages and the potential for creative solutions, like nesting, to provide stability for children during parental separation.
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