Creating a solid parenting plan can help co-parents and their children alike better understand what to expect from their family dynamics moving forward. However, life can be unpredictable, and emergencies – such as family crises or natural disasters like hurricanes – can disrupt even the most well-organized plans. When unforeseen circumstances arise, flexibility in a family’s parenting plan can help to serve everyone’s needs as they’re evolving.
Parenting plans can be crafted utilizing a template from the courts, or by working with one’s legal team to draft a bespoke approach. Either way, it’s important for those who are newly creating parenting plans, in addition to those who already have them in place, to address a reasonable need for flexibility within the terms of their family’s unique plan.
Safety considerations need to come first
While parenting plans are designed to provide structure and consistency, it’s important to keep in mind that emergencies happen. Having flexibility built into a parenting plan allows parents to adapt to sudden changes without unnecessary conflict. A rigid plan that doesn’t account for emergencies can lead to disputes, stress and even legal complications.
As such, parenting plans should include provisions that address how emergencies will be handled. This might involve outlining steps for communicating about sudden changes or disruptions to the regular parenting time schedule. For example, hurricanes may require families to shelter in place, evacuate or otherwise adjust their plans on short notice.
A well-constructed parenting plan should account for the possibility of medical emergencies, natural disasters, etc. and include guidelines for how to manage parenting time and communication when safety needs to be the top priority for all involved.