Couples with children that are going through a break up may have a difficult time determining a fair way to share their parenting time. Even when a couple is able to agree on other custody and support related issues, creating an actual co-parenting schedule can lead to a negotiation stalemate. While overcoming this obstacle in order to create a schedule is possible, that does not always end your problems. Making an unreasonable or unrealistic co-parenting schedule can lead to more trouble at a time when you and your former partner believe the worst is over. This advice for creating a realistic co-parenting schedule makes establishing a schedule that works easier for everyone.
Do Not Weaponize the Schedule
Just because you and your ex are at the negotiation table does not mean there are no hard feelings between you. When the time to create a co-parenting schedule arrives, one or both parties may try to use the schedule as a passive aggressive way to get back at each other for wrongs real and imagined. Remember, parenting your children is about doing what is best for them and not about getting back at each other. Make sure your plan allows for your children to benefit from the support and presence of both parents that is vital to a children’s development in the future. Objecting to a fair division because you are angry or vindictive is a disservice to your children.
Keep Travel Realistic
Couples who live in different states or significant distances away within the same state may have difficulty managing weekly visits. If you want to see your child as much as possible, but know traveling will be expensive, make sure your co-parenting plan reflects this. Insisting on a specific schedule that you know that you will be unable to maintain just so that you can have what you want in writing is not fair to your children.
Discuss How to Handle Major Decisions
Family court encourages both parents to play an active role in the lives of their children. This includes making important decisions in the child’s life such as their health care, education, and other serious issues. Unless you plan for how to make joint decisions in the future, trouble can occur later when you and your ex are unable to come to an agreement on major issues. The last thing you want or need is a new court hearing years after custody is decided because you and your ex cannot agree on something involving your child.
Get Third-Party Advice
Once you and your former partner have come to an agreement regarding how to handle co-parenting, it is best to get the aid of a qualified third party. Having a child custody and visitation attorney review your co-parenting plan allows you to benefit from the opinion of a third party who can make sure that your interests and those of your child are protected. The attorneys at Vayman & Teitelbaum know how sensitive these situations are and we work hard to make sure that your rights are protected. Contact us today to schedule your consultation so that we can begin working on your case.
