After ending their marriage, parents in Ohio will have to work together to create a parenting plan for raising their children. Every relationship is different, so parenting plans will be specific to a family’s situation.
While there is no perfect parenting plan, parents can work together to craft a plan that incorporates all of the family’s needs and anticipates issues that might come up later. As they negotiate the different aspects of child custody, parents need to remember that a successful parenting plan should work for all the family members but must be based, above all, on the best interests of the children.
What is the goal of a parenting plan?
The goal is to ensure that the children continue to grow and develop in an emotionally stable environment. For this to occur, parents need to have open and honest communication. They also need to be supportive and encouraging of the children’s relationship with the other parent. While a carefully crafted parenting plan includes an organized schedule for the children, flexibility is also important because unexpected changes to the schedule can come up.
What should be included in a parenting plan?
To create a successful parenting plan, there are a variety of factors that should be addressed. These include:
- The time each parent will spend with the children
- How decisions regarding the children’s health, education and religious upbringing will be made
- The children’s extracurricular activities and other interests and needs
- How the parents will communicate with each other
- Where children will spend holidays and special days
Parents should also remember that as time passes, the situation of the different family members can change, so they might need to ask for changes to the parenting plan. A family law attorney may be able to help parents come up with a successful parenting plan that honors the custody agreement in place.
