Since 1998, the state of Missouri has required parents to submit proposed parenting plans to the courts whenever they file documents related to child custody or visitation. This parenting plan can be challenging to parents — especially when they disagree on visitation or have other circumstances that affect their decisions. In other locations, these may be referred to as custody orders or schedules. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we represent clients in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana assisting them with legal issues related to parenting plans. If you are considering a parenting plan, contacting us for a confidential, half-hour consultation can help you make the right decisions for your family.

Creating a Parenting Plan

Parenting plans are designed to help parents who are not living together — either because of a divorce or because they were never married — create a stable and healthy environment for their children by arranging regular visitation with both parents.Parenting plans should consider the best interests of the child above all else and must include specific information that is relevant to your case:

Child custody and visitation, including holiday schedules
Decision-making rights and responsibilities
Dispute resolution methods
Educational and extracurricular expenses, including college
Child care expenses
Healthcare costs
Exchange locations and transportation costs
Claiming the children as income tax deductions

If both parents have reached an agreement on custody and visitation, and have created a parenting plan that they agree on, your case will probably be a lot easier. But you should know that informal agreements are not enforceable until a judge signs a judgment ratifying that agreement. This means that either party can choose to renege on any informal agreement not court approved. This is why it is crucial to formalize these agreements with the signature of a judge. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we can help.You can read more on this topic in an article titled: Missouri Parenting Plans.Parenting Plans are crucial if you are trying to raise a child post-divorce. We have written articles on the topic to give you a better understanding of how they can help: Creating a parenting plan runs smoother with communication and Parenting plan: Think about the teenage years too.

Contact Our Multi-State Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana Attorneys for Parenting Plans

To learn more about creating a parenting plan, contact our lawyers online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation. We have offices in St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, Wichita, Tulsa Oklahoma City, Omaha, Lincoln, and beyond.

Creating a Parenting Plan

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