The Trenton, Florida child custody lawyers at the Shochet Law Group are here to help you if you and your former partner are getting divorced or separated. If you are getting divorced and have children, you’ll need to write a parenting plan with your former spouse for your divorce to be finalized. If you and your child’s other parent are unmarried or are getting separated, having a parenting plan in place can ensure that expectations are clear, and disputes don’t arise in the future. Child custody can be one of the most stressful aspects of a divorce, especially if both parents want full custody of the children, or if both parents have different ideas about how to co-parent. When it comes to child custody, the best option is to reach a co-parenting agreement outside of court in negotiation with your former spouse. The other option is to take your disagreement to court, but there are many downsides to this route. For one, a judge will use the best interests of the child standard when making child custody determinations. This standard is quite open-ended and the way it might be interpreted can vary from judge to judge. When a divorcing or separating couple takes a child custody dispute to court, there is always the possibility that the judge might make a child custody decision that neither parent wants. Fortunately, it is relatively rare that a judge will make a child custody decision. Usually, mediation is ordered, or both parents resolve their differences outside of court. Having a child custody lawyer in Trenton, Florida on your side to help you as you navigate the process of drafting a parenting plan and making co-parenting decisions can make the negotiation process go more smoothly and reduce stress.
What Should a Child Custody Parenting Plan Look Like in Trenton, Florida?
Resolving child custody decisions can be complicated. If you are in the process of getting divorced or need to put together a parenting plan, most Florida courts will recommend that you work with a child custody lawyer to help you with your parenting plan. The Trenton, Florida child custody lawyer at Shochet Law Group can assist you with putting together a parenting plan that can be approved by the court. There are several things you’ll need to think about when writing a parenting plan. Let’s explore these things here:
- Parental Responsibility. Parental responsibility refers to the rights that each parent has regarding decision-making for the child. Parental responsibility includes decisions for the child’s education, health, mental health, and other major decisions. Co-parents can choose to share responsibility, split responsibility, or one parent can have sole parental responsibility.
- A parenting plan will generally also include provisions for specifying which schools the child will attend and how after-school activities will be decided upon and paid for.
- The parenting plan will either allow each parent to provide religious instruction to the children as he or she sees fit or will specify one faith in which the child will be raised.
- A parenting plan will also include information about how childcare decisions will be made, including whether each parent can select childcare providers, or whether approved childcare providers will be specified in the parenting plan.
- Time Sharing. A parenting plan will also include a detailed time-sharing schedule that outlines when each parent will spend time with the children, and specify information about how transportation and exchanges will be arranged. The time-sharing schedule should also include provisions for how academic holidays and other holidays will be split. The time-sharing plan should also include vacation time.
- Co-parents should agree about how they plan to communicate about their children and rules for how parents can communicate with the children during time sharing.
- Modifications and other provisions. A parenting plan may also include provisions for how the plan can be changed or modified and how disputes should be resolved.
These are just some of the key points that may be addressed in a parenting plan. Unique circumstances might call for a completely different parenting plan. For example, in a high conflict divorce, parents may need to put a more highly structured parenting plan in place, and in the case of domestic violence, a safety plan may be required. If you have questions about child custody or what information you should include in your parenting plan, reach out to the Trenton, Florida child custody lawyer at the Shochet Law Group today. Our child custody lawyers can help you create a parenting plan that works for your family and put together a structure that can potentially prevent future conflict.
A Child Custody Lawyer in Trenton, Florida Can Help
At the Shochet Law Group we believe that the people most qualified to make decisions in the best interests of a child are the child’s parents. To this end, we can help you and your former spouse reach a co-parenting agreement that works for your family. We can stand by your side every step of the way, helping you understand your rights, the best interests of the child standards, and assist you with the next steps. Contact the child custody lawyer in Trenton, Florida at the Shochet Law Group today.