Divorce is complex, especially for two people who have children and who want to remain committed to their well-being. You and your spouse may resolve to work together to provide your kids with a stable and secure future, but this is not always as easy as it may sound. This requires both of you to have a willingness to work together and keep the needs of the kids as the main priority.
One way that you can do this is by crafting a unique and thorough parenting plan. This is an agreement that will outline how you and the other California parent will work together, share parenting time and raise your kids to the best of your abilities. In order for this to work well long-term, you may have to set aside your own personal feelings and keep your focus on what is best for the kids.
Resolving custody out of court
A parenting plan will work best when it is thorough and thoughtful. This is essentially the guiding plan for how you and your former spouse will parent your children together for years to come. As you work through the process of crafting the right plan, it may help to ask the following questions:
- How can you and your spouse share parenting time best? What will it look like with your children going between houses?
- What happens if extended family members, such as grandparents, want to see your children?
- How will you and the other parent make important decisions for the child, such as those pertaining to education, health care and more?
- How will you and the other parent deal with disputes, disagreements and other unexpected situations that may arise after the divorce is final?
It is important to find the right answers to these questions and craft your custody and visitation plan according to what will really work for the kids and both parents. Children benefit when allowed to maintain strong relationships with their parents after divorce, and you can allow them this opportunity with a fair and reasonable parenting plan.
Help along the way
Resolving custody issues out of court does not mean that you will not need assistance during your divorce. It is always prudent to ensure that what you are agreeing to is sustainable and enforceable, and you will also want to make sure you are protecting your parental rights and interests. Before you agree to terms or make any important choices, speaking with an attorney about your options may be beneficial.
