Naples Child Custody Attorney Discusses 3 Crucial Elements of Parenting Plans
Divorce always comes with emotional challenges, but the stress can be particularly overwhelming for parents. In addition to the typical concerns, parents must create a custody arrangement that represents the best interests of the child.
Paper cutout family with divorce related messages
Developing a parenting schedule is not easy. It must account for pick-up times, drop-off times, visitation dates, holidays, school demands and other factors. If you and your ex cannot agree on important points, then it may be wise to contact a child custody attorney.
A Naples child custody lawyer from the Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, PA can answer your questions about parenting plans, child support and other family law matters. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 866-949-0888.
Until then, read on to learn three important elements in a parenting plan:
- Visitation
Children thrive emotionally, mentally and physically when they have both parents in their lives. According to the Florida Bar, most parenting plans include time-sharing and visitation rights for non-custodial parents.
Your time-sharing plan should be detailed. It must outline the length and frequency of visits, and whether the visits occur on weekends or weeknights. In most situations, the non-custodial parent should be able to occupy roughly 20 percent of parental time. However, increasing this percentage often has positive effects for children.
- Residence
Custody decisions always favor the child’s best interests. One of the most important factors to consider is whether each parent has a healthy residence.
If one parent has a history of abuse or drug use, this could affect the residence situation. However, if both parents have healthy home environments, then they have more flexibility when it comes to deciding when a child will live with each parent. You will have to consider:
- If your child’s main home will be one residence or two;
- Whether there will be a weekly or monthly rotation;
- Where the child will spend most of his or her time;
- And if there will be changes to the routine on weekends.
- Holidays
Your child’s school schedule will have a major impact on the time-sharing agreement. You should reference your child’s school calendar while developing your parenting plan.
The time-sharing arrangement should account for your child’s school holidays. Some parents choose to alternate important holidays; others stick to a consistent holiday routine every year. You should identify the holidays that are most important to you while respecting your ex’s wishes regarding the time-sharing agreement.
It is important to remember that your parenting plan should be flexible. As your child grows, you or your ex may wish to adjust the holiday schedule.
Child custody is a common source of disputes between divorcing spouses. If you and your spouse cannot agree on important issues, contact a Naples child custody attorney from the Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, PA. Mr. Raheb can help you avoid making key mistakes that could compromise your personal or financial interests. Call 866-949-0888 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
