If you live in Texas, are a parent and are going through a separation or divorce, one of your first orders of business should be to work with your former partner to establish a parenting plan that creates a sense of stability for your child. At Laura Dale & Associates, we have a firm understanding of the types of matters that are important to hash out in a parenting plan, and we have helped many clients facing similar circumstances find resolutions that meet their needs.
Per Divorce magazine, one term you may repeatedly here throughout your divorce is “the best interests of the children,” and this concept again plays a key role when creating your parenting plan. While you can work through any number of matters in your plan, from visitation schedules to who is to pay for extracurricular activities, there are certain steps and considerations to make throughout the process that can help your child adjust to the new changes.
For starters, make the parenting plan a priority. The sooner it takes effect, the sooner your family can adapt to it. Additionally, if your kids are old enough to offer an opinion, get their take on certain matters, where appropriate. For example, maybe your child prefers to spend the school year with the parent who lives closer to a particular school, and then spend summers and vacations with the other one.
If your relationship with your former partner is a difficult one, you may also want to discuss how you two will communicate in your parenting plan. In some cases, limiting communication to electronic means benefits everyone involved. Additionally, make sure you voice any concerns you might have about custody or visitation when creating the parenting plan to avoid unnecessary hardship down the line. More about divorce and child custody is available on our web page.
