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What Are The Parenting Plans Requirement

What Are The Parenting Plans Requirement

Divorce is never an easy process; it is often stressful of both of the parents and especially the child.

However, with the cooperation of both parents, they are able to make a stressful and traumatizing situation considerably more tolerable.

When a divorce settlement involves a child, the courts will determine though child custody laws, which is the best arrangement for custody on behalf of both the parents and the children involved.

However, the parents’ decision made regarding child custody laws can only make so many advances if the relationship between the two parents is not on amicable terms; the judge will grant the parents a type of joint custody or one parent will receive sole custody and the non-custodial parent, visitation rights.

Either way, the courts encourage co parenting when appropriate. Just because one parent has sole custody of the child does not mean that the non-custodial parent will have be shut out from the child’s life.

Child custody laws do not intend to bar the non-custodial parent from spending time in their child’s life. With the help of a parenting plan, they can continue to live normal lives with healthy interaction between both parents and the child.

In many states, child custody law requires that the parents submit a parenting plan prior to the courts determination of custody. This is done because courts prefer to assign joint custody to both parents instead of sole custody to one.

However, it does not always work out that way, and in cases of sole custody, parenting plans are often used also. Requirements for a parenting plan will differ depending on the state, but it is essentially an agreement that separated parents will develop together about how their children will be cared for and supported.

If the parents can agree on all the terms for the parenting plan, an agreement can be drawn up between themselves. Coming to an agreement on decision that will affect your child will be beneficial to your child, especially if it saves the chance for arguments and/or misunderstandings.

A parenting plan can include any and all decisions that need to be addressed concerning the child. Obviously if child custody laws determine that one parent should receive sole legal custody of a child, the parenting plan will be much shorter, as most decisions aside from visitation will not concern the non-custodial parent.

However, in any other case where child custody laws will determine that both parents will have joint legal custody (which is more common), the plan will be drawn up by both parents. As most parenting plans are not legally binding, changes can be made at any time.

The only requirements are that the changes be agreed on by both parents. If parents choose have the parenting plan legally recognized, it must follow certain requirements as to how it is developed. It must be written down, signed and dated by both parents.

Divorce is not easy but with the full cooperation of both parents, it doesn’t have to be hard. Child custody laws are there to guide families through this time with structure and organization. Developing a parenting plan can not only save time and money, it can also ease the stress on a child during this very difficult time.

Find Different Parenting Plans Examples

Find Different Parenting Plans Examples

One of the most complicated aspects of a divorce is the child custody issue. It is true that if parents can put their differences aside for the child, the process can be much easier for both parents and the child, yet that does not negate the fact that preparing for a divorce settlement can be very complicated. Many courts will require parents to submit a divorce parenting plan. 
A divorce parenting plan is an agreement between the parents that will address every aspect and decision that will affect the child’s life, and as a result, a divorce parenting plan can be a lengthy agreement. It is not unusual for one or both parents to forget very important issues that will affect the child’s life when developing a divorce parenting plan. However, this is not due negligence or apathy towards the best interests of their child, but instead due the multifaceted details that are components of a successful and functional parenting plan. Every single aspect of the child’s life will go down on this divorce parenting plan and for those parents who are developing a divorce parenting plan for the first time, they may find it helpful to guide themselves with a parenting plan template. 
A parenting plan template can be helpful for a number of reasons. Not only do they lay everything out in an orderly manner, they also include most issues that parents who are developing a divorce parenting plan for the first time, tend to forget. On a typical day with one’s child, one would be astounded to realize how many decisions have been made on behalf of their children, both on a conscious and subconscious level. In addition, when one falls into a pattern of family living where each parent has their own set of responsibilities, there exists a potential difficulty performing tasks with which one in unfamiliar. Therefore, it would behoove the parents to take advantage of a parenting plan template. Each parenting plan template will include issues that are usually addressed without the help of a parenting plan template, as well as some other issues that don’t come to mind as readily. 
Some of the issues that come easily to mind in developing a divorce parenting plan include: how to split up the child’s vacations and holidays, what school or daycare they will attend, under what religious upbringing should the child be raised, what types of extracurricular activities the child should participate in, the health care the child should be provided with, where to keep the majority the child’s belongings, how to approach the situation in which parent begin a romantic relationship, how to handle travel and contact during that interim, how the parents will communicate, how the other parent will communicate with the child when they are not together, and finally, an appropriate method regarding problem solving.
The development of a parenting plan is a complex process, involving a range of emotions and details. The dissolution of a marriage prompts profound emotional responses on the parts of all involved. However, a parenting plan devoid of respect, compassion, and empathy will yield undesirable results for all parties connected to the initial divorce settlement. Parents in need of assistance are encouraged to seek out legal and professional advice in order to provide an optimal parenting plan for their children.

Parenting Plan Issues and Situations a Parenting Plan Address

Parenting Plan Issues and Situations a Parenting Plan Address

The avoidance of litigation during a divorce is not always a viable option if the spouses have not maintained amicable relations. However, should the need arise to institute child custody arrangements, a court hearingdivorce settlement. The child may have been enduring a great deal of stress prior to that event, and although they may not have express it, children can sense when parents cannot cooperate with one another.
 The child is the most important issue at the center of a divorce. Many parents may harbor bitter feelings and hostility towards one another, but most are willing to put those feelings aside when it comes to making decisions that will affect the child’s life. Many parents don’t realize how many decisions they make separately and jointly on a daily basis regarding the child until the day comes when their family life is disrupted. It is not unusual for one or both parents to forget very important issues that will affect the child’s life when developing a divorce parenting plan; this is not due to the fact that the parents do not care about the child or do not have the child’s best interests on their mind, rather, it is because many aspects of a parenting plan will address issues that neither of the parents in question ,have seldom considered on a daily basis.
The number of daily decisions that a parent makes on behalf of their children is staggering. Taking this dynamic into consideration, the true nature of the affectations of children should be taken into consideration during a custody battle. Though both parents may feel entitled, wrong, and resolute, none of these sentiments allow for a docile and calm retreats for their respective child, if they create hostile and antagonistic environments.
Because most parents have never been alone with their child for a long period of time, they may not realize all the different stipulations, issues and situations they may need to address in the development of parenting plans. Before beginning the draft of a parenting plan, it often a good idea to think of what the child goes through on a daily basis, as well as preparing your child for extraordinary circumstances.
 
When one falls into a pattern of family living where each parent has their own set of parental and household responsibilities, one sometimes cannot realize what other needs must be met for the child, especially when the other parent was previously responsible for its completion. Because of this, many courts have required that parents jointly submit a parenting plan for their child prior to a custody decision. In addition to saving court time, both parents will have the opportunity to sit down with one another and discuss their responsibilities and concerns regarding the child. If there are multiple children, the parents may want to develop multiple parenting plans, instead of a one size fits all to cover all of the children, as each child is different.

Child Custody Parenting Plan Overview

Child Custody Parenting Plan Overview

The main focus of a parenting plan should be for the care, well-being and development of the child. As a result, a focus on the best interests of the child, rather than the needs of the parents is imperative. For many parents, it can be a task of inconvenience considering everything else that is happening with their pending divorce. It is not uncommon for the parents to lose sight of the purpose of the parenting plan. An enforcement of and adherence to a parenting plan is based on the child’s best interest and welfare. 
Decisions should be made based on what is best for the child, rather than what fits best into the parent’s schedules. They may also want to think about how far they will live from each other, as that is the first thing to consider before you can make any decision on any issue regarding the child. In addition, parents must realize that in their life prior to divorce, parents had the option to rearrange their schedules and plans on a whim. After the divorce, they will no longer have that option, so whatever agreements they come to, they must be honored. 
Breaking an agreement on the parenting plan affects not only your spouse, but also your child. The manner in which it is written must also be for long term practicality. The child will not remain the same age forever, and as they grow, their lifestyles and activities will change. Parents must consider this also when developing a parenting plan. A child’s life in unpredictable and addressing all of the issues and situations that may arise throughout their life, in a single parenting plan, is often impossible. 
With everything that parents must keep in mind when developing a parenting plan, it may seem like a daunting task. Luckily, parents can turn to many different sources for assistance. For those parents who are developing a parenting plan for the first time, they may find a parenting plan template helpful in guiding them through some of the more important issues and some of the less thought about issues. 
Some of the more common issues addressed in a parenting plan include where the child will live and which parent the child will live with, the amount of time that the child will spend with each parent, the amount of time that the child will spend with their extended families on both the maternal and paternal side, which parent will help the child with homework and other daily activities and whether the parents can both attend important events, how to share parental responsibilities of big decisions educational and health care arrangements for special occasions and holidays, how to keep in touch with the other parent when the child is not with them, how to agree on long term issues that may arise as the child gets older, how to deal with circumstances that may change for either parent or child, and the agreement on a process to resolve any changes that may be made in the parenting plan. 
This last issue is very important, as it serves as a catch-all for all the unforeseen circumstances that may come about in the future as the child continues to grow. Some issues that parents may forget to include are where to stow the child’s belongings. Also, both parents must consider how they will split transportation for the child for different events.
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