Parenting Plans Sometimes Tricky

Added: (Thu Jan 14 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - If a divorce involves children, the parents need to create a parenting plan, or custody agreement. It will assist in making the divorce process a little easier for those involved.

A divorce isn’t “just” a divorce. It deals with all sorts of things from division of property to alimony questions and from grounds for divorce to child custody. It’s an emotionally devastating time for all those involved, but more so for the children. “Divorcing parents need to sit down and work out some sort of a parenting plan that is in the best interests of their kids,” reiterated Bradley J. Hofland, a Las Vegas family law attorney.

While this might not be possible if the spouses are not speaking to one another, then one spouse or parent needs to take a stab at drafting a child custody agreement that can be taken to court. At that time, the judge will then decide what does and doesn’t go into the agreement. “What the judge does and does not include in the agreement may not be what the parents wanted, and this is one of the main reasons why, even if the parents are fighting tooth and nail, to get it together for the sake of their children,” added Hofland.

Some of the provisions to include in a child custody and parenting plan may include the exact amount of parenting time each parent has with the children. Usually the best way to accomplish this is to create a visitation and custody schedule that includes holidays, vacations and special events. It should be as complete as possible in the given circumstances, with the realization that things may happen that will change the times later.

Try to decide which parent the children will live with for the largest majority of time and when the visits are to be scheduled with the other parent. If the children decide, there may even be a two household setup. Basically, the schedule needs to reflect what works best for the kids and provides each parent with enough time to continue their relationship with the children and help them grow.

Another factor that needs to be included in any parenting plan is how the parents go about making major decisions for the child. This would include religious beliefs, activities, medical care, medical treatments, education, and other activities revolving around schooling. “The decisions may be made by the parents or just one of them. If they do decide to share making the decisions, they’d best be able to get along well enough to reach an agreement on what needs to be done or their will just be problems in the future,” Hofland explained.

“The bottom line in most agreements of this nature is that anything a parent wants to make sure does happen with the child has to be included in the agreement. That could include when and how the kids are dropped off and picked up and/or how to resolve disputes that come up during the course of the year relating to the agreement,” outlined Bradley J. Hofland, a Las Vegas family law attorney.

If child custody is an issue and warring couples are not able to discuss the specifics with one another, this is the point where they need to speak to a highly skilled Las Vegas family law attorney. Getting an agreement in place that is in the best interests of the child is critical and an attorney is able to guide the couple toward an equitable solution.