If you’re going through a divorce and have a child, you want to make sure you know exactly what is going to happen to your child. Will you be the primary caregiver? Will your spouse take over that role?
As a parent, it’s vital that you work with your spouse to create a parenting plan that you both can agree on. It may be difficult to do so if your divorce is contentious, but if you cannot agree, a judge will make all the decisions about your child’s care for you.
Your attorney can help you negotiate a parenting plan, or you can try alternative dispute resolution options. If you can work together, it’s more likely that you’ll come up with a plan both parties agree with.
A parenting plan is important because it spells out all the important factors of custody. Parenting plans discuss when you’ll see your child, what happens on holidays and even what happens in unusual circumstances, like if your child gets sick or decides he or she doesn’t want to go to the other parent’s home.
There are times when parents can’t agree on parenting plans, and that means that the court can step in. If a judge determines your child custody arrangements, be prepared for the outcome to likely be different than what you expected. The court does not need to follow any parenting plan recommendations or requests you may have.
If you’re struggling to create a parenting plan, your attorney can help you look into options. It’s better to work together now to make sure your child is secure in the future.
Source: Florida Courts, “Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form,” accessed May 11, 2017
