All New Jersey parents who are going through a divorce, should have a parenting plan that sets the boundaries and provides stability for the children. Sharing the children can go past the day they turn 18, especially when grandchildren show up. By coming up with a parenting plan when the children are young, arguments and future problems can be kept to a minimum.
When parents first start looking at parenting plans, they usually start with determining who has legal custody. Under normal circumstances, both parents will share legal custody, meaning they will both be responsible for making decisions about education, religion and other important matters. The parents must also determine how they will share physical custody, or where the children will spend their time. This can be crucial once the children go to school full time or one parent needs to move for a job.
By working out a plan, parents must identify and discuss potential problems before they arise. Additionally, the plan provides a written record of what was agreed upon. It gives a blueprint for solving problems as they come up without having to go back to court.
Child custody disputes can be difficult on everyone involved. An attorney can often help a parent draft a plan that will be found to be in the best interests of the child and which could prevent difficult problems from occurring in the future. In some cases, mediation or another alternate form of dispute resolution may be appropriate for resolving any remaining issues.
