Divorce is sure to shake up your life in many ways, including your relationship with your children. Fortunately, through the creation of a parenting agreement, you can ensure that your children are put in the best possible situation in the future.
The creation of a parenting agreement comes about during the divorce process, with both parents negotiating on details related to custody and visitation.
The number one thing to consider when creating a parenting agreement is the details that are included. You don’t want to overlook something of importance, as doing so could cause additional stress for you, your ex and/or your children in the future.
Here are some of the most important things to include:
- Where the children will live
- A visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent
- If one or both parents will have legal custody of the children
- Where the children will spend major events, such as holidays and birthdays
- Language outlining how to handle contact with extended family, such as grandparents, uncles and aunts
The best parenting agreements also outline how to deal with future changes and disputes. Even if your parenting plan is working for everyone right now, it could need some adjustments in the future.
Violating a parenting agreement
Once a parenting agreement is in place, both parents must follow the terms and conditions. As a legally binding court order, violating the agreement can result in serious trouble.
For example, if your ex repeatedly fails to return your children after their scheduled visitation, you can take legal action to protect against this in the future.
It’s natural to want to rush through the divorce process, as you hope to put your marriage in the past as quickly as possible. However, if you don’t pay close attention during the creation of a parenting agreement, you will end up regretting it in the future.
The details of your parenting agreement will dictate how you interact with your children, as well as what’s expected of you as a parent.
If you run into any issues after your parenting agreement is in place, such as with your ex continually violating its conditions, take legal action to protect yourself and your children.
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