Creating a parenting plan is an important task after any divorce or other matter that involves children. Your plan will outline how you will co-parent with your former spouse, handle parenting issues, and continue to raise your children in the future. When a parenting plan is well-written, it can make co-parenting easier because it acts as a point of reference when different situations arise. There are many different topics to include in your parenting plan so it provides the blueprint you need in the future. Below, our Tampa child custody and visitation attorney explains the most important items to include in your parenting plan. Also, Hillsborough County among other counties mandates that there must be a parenting plan if there are children involved.
The Parenting Time Schedule
Perhaps the most important part of a parenting plan is the schedule outlining parenting time, or the division of the child’s time between your home and that of your former spouse. Include plans for transporting the child between homes, as well. For example, will you each drive the child directly to the other’s home, or will you meet in a safe, neutral location for pick-ups and drop-offs?
Decision-Making Authority
Important decisions will have to be made regarding the child, including those pertaining to the child’s discipline, healthcare, education, and religion. The court may have already determined which party has the authority to make these decisions, but you should still include the terms within your parenting plan. Doing so can make it easier to reference in the future.
Special Dates and Holidays
All families have special occasions and it is important to include these in your parenting plan. Consider birthdays, school breaks, vacations, holidays, and other special occasions and include provisions for them in your parenting plan. This can help you create a plan that will continue to work for you many years into the future.
Travel Plans
In some cases, the children may have to travel quite a distance to visit one of their parents. Other times, one parent may simply want to travel with the child so they can go on a trip together. You should include travel arrangements in your plan, including which parent will purchase the airline tickets, and how far in advance the parents must provide notice of the trip. You should also name anyone who is not allowed to travel with the child, if necessary.
How to Handle Changes
The parenting plan you create now may not work in one or two years. Or, you may have to make a slight change at some point. For example, if your work schedule changes for just one week, it may interfere with the time you were supposed to spend with your child. Include provisions in your parenting plan for how changes will be dealt with in the future. Include how far in advance either party must propose changes, as well as changes that are necessary due to an emergency situation.
Our Child Custody and Visitation Attorneys in Tampa Can Help with Your Plan
If you need to create a parenting plan, you need sound legal advice so you can avoid future disputes. At All Family Law Group, P.A., our Tampa child custody and visitation attorneys can help you create a plan that will work for your family now, and in the future. Call us now at 813-672-1900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Se habla Español.
