A parenting plan is a co-parenting legally binding arrangement after divorce that both parents must abide by. It outlines how you and your spouse will raise and care for your children on a day-to-day or long-term basis.
The goal of establishing a solid parenting plan promptly during divorce is to promote the best interests of the children and avoid future legal complications for you and your family. Both you and your spouse should understand your rights and responsibilities when establishing a parenting plan.
Do what's best for your children after a divorce
Getting a divorce can be an emotionally devastating experience. You and your spouse may have a lot of personal disagreements. Your marriage may not have ended on good terms. But it is important that you do what's best for your children.
No two families are alike. Your case is unique. It's important that you develop a plan that is specifically tailored to the needs of your children. A strong plan will address:
Medical decisions for your children. This may include emergency medical decisions; choice of primary care physician and dentist; and who will have access to medical information.
Where your children will go to school. Your children will likely go to school in the district where they reside with whomever has primary custody. If an agreement can't be reached by you and your spouse, then the decision may be made by a judge.
How visitations, custody and parenting time will be coordinated. The parent who is determined to be the primary caretaker of your children will likely be granted custody. The parent who isn't granted custody will likely have visitation rights or partial custody. For example, the children may live with one parent Monday through Friday, but stay with the other parent on the weekends.
Determining child support of the noncustodial parent. After divorce, the parent who isn't granted full custody of the children will likely be required to pay child support. The amount of child support to be paid to the custodial parent is determined using each parent's income and amount of time spent with the children. The purpose of child support is to ensure that the children's basic living needs are met.
Future changing needs. Especially if your children are young, your parenting plan should anticipate future needs that may become applicable when the children are older, such as sports and activities. You can't plan for every possible contingency, but you should give the future as much consideration as possible and build in flexibility when it makes sense to do so.
Sometimes, these terms can be worked out amicably in the course of the divorce. Often, however, they require intervention from a mediator or a judge.
Contact our Illinois law firm for help with your parenting plan
The legal team at Courtney Clark Law, P.C. understands the challenges divorced spouses face, especially when children are involved. Our goal is to help you overcome legal challenges that may arise during and after your divorce and find a solution that meets your family's needs. If you and your spouse are planning on getting divorced, we can help guide you through this complicate process and help you weigh your legal options.
To set up your free and confidential case consultation, contact us online and we'll get back to you shortly.