If you are in the process of figuring out a parenting plan for you, your former spouse and children then you may want to think about joint custody. Joint custody is a way for both parents to be involved in the children’s lives and to help raise them. Parents who opt for joint custody acknowledge and understand that children do best when both parents are involved in their lives and that both mother and father play an important role. When developing your parenting plan for this type of agreement you should consider and discuss
- how you and the other parent will show consistency in regulating rules and behavior
- the age and temperament of each child–how they will adjust to changes in the schedule, their routine, etc.
- any special needs of the children
- how each parent was involved before the separation and how to allow each parent to be involved now
- the flexibility and availability of the parent’s schedules
- how far apart the parents live from each other, the school, and daycare
- how the parents will keep communication open and how they will cooperate
Thinking all of these issues through as you make your parenting plan will give you a good start on your custody agreement. It’s nice to start with a solid foundation because it means there won’t have to be drastic changes in the near future. It also puts you in a good place to make minor adjustments with less hassle.
Remember that Custody X Change lets you put in provisions with your parenting plan. There are many that you can choose from, but you can also add your own. So, as you and your former spouse talk about these issues, you can add them right into the agreement. Then you both have the peace of mind that what you talked about will be followed.