Divorce is tough, make no mistake. It doesn’t get easier when you share a child together. Fortunately, a thoughtfully written parenting plan can help everyone (you, your ex and child) navigate the emotional turbulence that comes with divorce.
But drafting a solid parenting plan is never easy. Here are two problematic missteps you want to avoid when drafting a parenting plan:
Having vague provisions
A solid parenting plan should be thoughtful and comprehensive. You may overlook the significance of including every detail of your child’s life and future in this plan, but this can be costly down the road. The last thing you want is to run into problems with your ex because you ignored or overlooked issues like discipline, visitation schedules, holiday and vacation plans as well as educational, co-curricular and medical decisions. A comprehensive parenting plan will take the guesswork out of the equation and ensure that you and your co-parent are on the same page, at least, most of the time.
Not prioritizing the child’s best interests
You might be responsible for drafting a parenting plan. However, it’s important to remember that it is all about the child. Simply put, a good parenting plan must be informed by the doctrine of the best interests of the child.
A parenting plan that does not focus on the best interests of the child will most likely be rejected by the court. To avoid this, consider actively engaging your spouse and child (depending on their age and maturity level) when drafting the plan.
Parenting after divorce can be challenging. Investing time and effort in drafting a good parenting plan can help you and your ex create some sort of post-divorce stability for everyone and especially the child.