When parents divorce, they have to plan out a child custody agreement, which allows them to continue their obligations, rights and responsibilities to parent their children. For the most part, parents will have to discuss legal and physical custody rights.
Legal custody involves any decision that’s important to a child’s life, such as what school they’ll attend, when they’re meant to be in bed, who attends the doctor appointments or what foods they can and can’t eat. While physical custody may be a lot simpler, it details where a child will live the most. In most cases, parents will have equal responsibility to house and visit their children.
The court typically believes that it’s in a child’s best interests to not separate them from any parent. As such, parents usually agree to a co-parenting plan. But, in many cases, parents can’t put aside their differences and have to resort to a new custody order. Here’s what you should know:
Picking the right child custody plan
Co-parenting, as you may already know, is a parenting plan that gives both parents a say in how their children are raised. Parents usually talk together about what they want for their children and what they think is in their best interests. This usually involves having parents communicate their desires and compromise decisions, thus, ensuring a child’s upbringing is stead and prosperous.
A co-parenting plan doesn’t always work – unfortunately, this can happen frequently. Parents may have a history of fighting during marriage and it can continue after a divorce. Or, one parent may overstep their rights and ignore the terms of a co-parenting plan.
When this happens, parents should consider creating a parallel parenting plan. This custody plan allows parents the right to care for their children without the other parent causing problems. Thus, parents usually communicate through text or email to ensure their responsibilities are met.
Whatever your custody concerns, there are possible solutions. Learning more can help you come up with a custody plan that works for your family and a solid modification request you can present in court.