Clearwater Parenting Plan Lawyer
According to the Florida Supreme Court, “a Parenting Plan is required in all cases involving time-sharing with minor child(ren), even when timesharing is not in dispute.” Both parents must agree to a parenting plan, which is then approved by the court. However, when the parents cannot agree, the court will make the decision for them, always favoring what the court believes to be in the best interests of the child. To protect yourself and your child from an unfair parenting plan, it is always best to work with an experienced Clearwater parenting plan lawyer.
It is Up to You and the Other Parent to Create the Best Parenting Plan Possible for Your Child
Creating a stable parenting plan is crucial for your young child’s social, cognitive, and emotional behavior, a recent study found. The most important aspects of a parenting plan for young children was having a consistent schedule and caregivers. While girls aged four to six benefited from overnighting, boys did not. This is an example of how one parenting plan does not fit all, and you and the other parent have the best chance at creating the most beneficial parenting plan, not a judge who does not know you or your child. As such, much thought needs to be put into creating a parenting plan, and much effort needs to be invested in reaching an agreement with the other parent.
Aspects of a Parenting Plan
- Time Sharing: The plan must outline how time will be split between either parent. It must outline where the child will live, where they will spend certain days of the week, visitation with the other parent if they do not have any legal custody, and so forth.
- How Expenses Will be Split: Custodial parents need to figure out how medical expenses, school expenses, health insurance, and other costs will be divided. This is part of a stable parenting plan that puts everything on the table to be discussed, and does not leave anything out for either party to silently grow frustrated over.
- Vacations and Holidays: Any disruptions to the normal time sharing plan need to be discussed in the parenting plan. Holidays and vacations can be a very difficult time for divorced parents to deal with, and having a parenting plan that seeks to mitigate future confrontations and disputes will do you and your child a great amount of good.
- Other Parenting Decisions: What religion, if any, will your child adopt? What social and cultural obligations do you or the other parent want your child to abide by? What school will your child attend, and what extracurricular activities will they participate in? Not all aspects of a parenting plan have to do with finances and time commitments. Possibly the most important part of a parenting plan is being able to agree on these types of questions.
Call a Parenting Plan Lawyer for Help Today
Creating a beneficial parenting plan is a critical aspect of your child’s life, and our attorneys are here to help you accomplish this important matter. Reach out to the Clearwater attorneys of Cairns Law, P.A. today at 727-683-1472 to set up a consultation.
