As you work through the divorce mediation process with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, you need to pay close attention to the things you can do to protect any child or children that you have with this person.
Creating a parenting agreement is easier said than done, but as long as both individuals are willing to work together, they will eventually settle on something that is mutually acceptable.
While no two parenting agreements are the same, there are some things that you definitely want to include. Here are some of those details:
- Which parent will have physical custody of the child or children
- Which parent or parents will have legal custody of the child or children
- Visitation schedules for the noncustodial parent
- A schedule for where the child or children will spend birthdays, vacations, holidays and any other important events
- An outline for the type of contact the child or children will have with extended family, such as grandparents
- A system for dealing with any changes or disputes that arise in the future (this will definitely happen)
These may not be the only things you include in a parenting agreement, but they will at least give you a clear idea of what to expect as the process moves forward.
Once you have a solid parenting agreement in place, you can feel much better about your responsibilities moving forward. While you may have to make compromises along the way, as long as your child is in a good place, there is nothing else that matters. This is really what a parenting agreement is all about.
Source: FindLaw, “The Parenting Agreement,” accessed Oct. 26, 2017
