A parenting plan is not an easy or simple document to create. It is a very detailed document that governs how the children’s lives will be handled until they are adults. Although you and your ex may agree on a lot of details now, and the divorce may be amicable, people change, and you may not always agree on details about the children’s lives in the future.
Some of the issues that you should consider including in a parenting plan are:
- – Parenting schedule. This schedule will outline the time the children will spend with each parent.
- – Pickups/drop-offs of the children. This is how the children will be picked up or dropped off for visitation.
- – Holiday visitation schedule. Often, parents alternate the major holidays, but the parties can agree what will work best in their situation.
- – Summer vacations. Summer vacations from school are typically a time in which the children spend more time with the non-custodial parent. The parenting plan can address summer vacations.
- – Child support. Details about child support may be mentioned in the parenting plan.
- – Medical and educational expenses. How these expenses will be handled should be addressed in the parenting plan.
- – Access to school and medical records. The document should address which parents get access to medical and school records, and who can make emergency medical decisions for the children.
- – Relocation. If one parent moves away, how will visitation be handled?
Typically, parenting plans are fairly lengthy documents which address a host of issues. You may have to work under this document for a long period of time, so it’s worth taking the time to make sure you have something in place you both can live with.
If you need legal assistance with custody, contact Dale L. Bernstein, Chartered Law Office to speak with an experienced New Port Richey child custody lawyer today!
