As you move through the divorce process, you’ll turn a good portion of your attention to child custody related matters. With a parenting agreement in place, both you and your ex-spouse will have a clear idea of how to best parent your children in the future.
While creating a parenting agreement is easier said than done, once you have this in place you’ll have greater peace of mind. Your agreement can outline things such as:
- Where your children will live
- If one or both parents have legal custody of the children
- A visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent
- A schedule outlining where children will spend vacations, holidays, birthdays and other special events
It’s also important to include language regarding how to make changes in the future. You can’t expect the parenting agreement you create today to provide guidance until your children reach 18 (unless they’re already close to this age).
Once you settle on the details of a parenting agreement, a family law judge will review it for final approval. Upon approval, both you and your ex are legally required to follow the terms and conditions of the agreement. Any violation is a big deal, as it can impact your custody rights in the future.
As you move past your divorce, you’ll be glad that you have a parenting agreement in place. This will save you time, all the while eliminating some of the stress associated with co-parenting. And best yet, you can rely on your parenting agreement to provide you guidance when you don’t know what you should be doing.
