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 Attorneys for Parenting Plans
To learn more about creating a parenting plan, contact our lawyers online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation.
