Should you test-run your parenting plan?

On Behalf of | Mar 27, 2019 | child custody |

As parents who don’t agree on much, you may find that creating a parenting plan is contentious. You may have a hard time sitting down together and coming up with a parenting plan that works for you. You may also have a difficult time arranging how you’ll implement rules and techniques for raising your child between homes.

As parents who want to do what’s best for your child, it is important that you find a way to work together. To begin with, it’s a positive choice to look into mediation or counseling, so that you and the other parent can learn to speak to one another calmly and to address situations without attacking one another or having a breakdown in communication.

During these mediation sessions, you can discuss your parenting plan preferences. Each of you should design the ideal plan based on your preferences. Then, exchange them and review them. If there are areas where you agree, then that’s a great place to start your negotiations. If you don’t agree, you can start negotiating changes one by one until you have a parenting plan in place.

Should you test out a new parenting plan before affirming it?

This can be a temporary parenting plan initially, allowing you to see if it works for your situation. If it does work after a few weeks, then it’s a good idea to keep this plan and submit it to the court for approval. It is usually a good idea to test the parenting plan first, just so that you’re both happy with the way it works. You’ll also be able to see if there are any days that need to be adjusted for the better care of your child.

If you need more help creating an acceptable parenting plan, don’t hesitate to speak with your attorney. He or she has extensive experience in the child custody aspects of divorce.