When you have a solid parenting plan in place, you and your ex can resolve issues before they turn into conflicts. Even though you can’t anticipate every disagreement, if you already have a plan, you and your child’s other parent will be able to navigate through the challenges of parenting if you’ve already established certain rules for raising your children in a healthy environment. If you’re a South Carolina resident, here are some family law tips to keep in mind when creating your parenting plan.
The purpose behind a parenting plan
When you go to your hearing in court, the judge will rule concerning custody of the children and provide you with a visitation schedule. However, this does not totally eliminate conflict between parents. A parenting plan is a more detailed document that can address specific issues, such as calling ahead if one parent is going to be late picking up the kids or providing sufficient notice before going out of town. The conflict between parents takes a toll on children, and even adults with divorced parents can attest to this. When parents know what to expect from each other, they can establish a co-parenting relationship that works.
Creating the parenting plan
After receiving a ruling in family law court, parents can visit a therapist to create a parenting plan with the help of an unbiased third party. Depending on how well the parents get along, they may be able to create this plan on their own. There are some online tools that will help both parents include details in the plan that will allow them to spend quality time with their children without constantly interfering with the other parent’s schedule. Some parents may even choose to designate a day in the week or month for both parents to be with their children in a family setting based on the needs of the child.