How to Create an Effective Parenting Plan

 

Posted on May 16, 2018

Having a parenting plan in place allows you to lay out terms regarding how your children will be cared for by both parents after the divorce. The time-sharing arrangement should consider the best interest of the child and will include items such as where the children will live, how time-sharing will work, who will make major decisions concerning the children, and how problems will be resolved should they arise.

Even if you and your former spouse get along now, that could change in the future. Consider your parenting plan as a backup. You won’t be forced to follow the plan exactly as long as you are able to mutually agree on the terms regarding your parent-child relationship. Continue co-parenting well together and you won’t even need to look at the parenting plan.

It’s important to get a court-approved parenting plan to avoid dealing with unfavorable consequences later such as custody disputes, confusion, and legal fees.

Benefits of a Good Parenting Plan

While there are many benefits of having a good parenting plan, here are a few to consider:

• You and your children have a schedule, which allows you to get them into a regular routine
• You can easily plan ahead for activities that will involve the children and for those that will not
• You can avoid having to go back to court to resolve parenting conflicts
• The plan offers peace of mind for both the parents and the children

What Should be Included

While all parenting plans are different, you and the other parent will create one that works for your family’s specific needs, particularly your children’s. Some things you should consider incorporating into your parenting plan include:

• The amount of time the children will be with each parent, including a clear schedule for the school year and summer, as well as holidays, birthdays, school vacations, etc. 
• Which home will be the children’s primary residence
• An outline of who is responsible for making major decisions regarding education, surgeries, medical treatments, etc.
• Who will be responsible for providing transportation for the children to the other parent’s home
• The financial responsibilities of each parent, including who will pay for extracurricular activities
• Specific parenting responsibilities such as who will stay with the child when they’re home sick from school, who will help with homework, who will take them to medical appointments, etc.
• How disputes will be handled

There are many aspects involved in creating an effective parenting plan. However, a parenting plan will be truly successful when both parents are flexible in the details and put their children’s needs first.

The Orlando family law attorneys at The Roberts Family Law Firm, P.A. can assist you in creating a satisfactory and effective parenting plan on either a temporary or permanent basis. If you are ready to begin your parenting plan, please contact us by calling 407-426-6999 or by filling out the contact form located on this page.