The terms of your custody order will affect your relationship with your child for a long time after your divorce is final. In order to minimize negative effects for children and to have more control over the terms of the final custody order, many California parents choose to work together to draft a parenting plan.
The goal of your parenting plan is to ultimately protect the best interests of your children above all else, but you will still find it beneficial to work to also protect your parental rights. Parenting plans should be fair, reasonable and sustainable long-term. It is beneficial to ensure your plan will work well for you and your kids for years to come.
Building a strong plan that will work
Just as every family is unique, every parenting plan is unique as well. When you draft your custody order out of court, you will have the ability to pursue terms that are specifically suited to your concerns and the needs of your children. As you draft a plan, you would be wise to consider the following factors:
- Parenting time: The amount of time a child will spend with his or her parent is important. It is beneficial to also consider holiday visitation, weekends and more.
- Religion and education: These are important issues, and by reaching a fair and respectful agreement on these matters now, you can avoid complications in the future.
- Other family members: It is prudent to outline how much time your child will have with others in the family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others.
A parenting plan should be thorough and carefully consider any important issues that could impact you and your children moving forward. By being as detailed as possible, you may be able to avoid complications and difficulties between you and the other parent in the future.
Your post-divorce future starts now
The terms of your parenting plan are important, and if you are opting to negotiate these terms out of court, you will still find it beneficial to have experienced guidance by your side as you do so. You have rights worth protecting, and you do not have to navigate this process on your own.
Whether you have questions about child custody issues or want to know how you can protect your parental interests and entitlements, you may find it helpful to start with a complete evaluation of your case.
