Parenting Plans are an essential part of any Divorce or Separation Agreement. These plans serve as a guide to the time you and your spouse will share with your children. As children and families grow, Parenting Plans may be reviewed and updated to accommodate the ever changing needs of children and their families, including changes in the locations of parents’ residences.
A Good Parenting Plan
A good parenting plan will outline how decisions will be made and by whom and will also include information on how much time they will spend with each parent and when. Additionally, parenting plans can include guidelines and agreements to help co-parents communicate better (on issues regarding the children) and to make the children’s transition between households as smooth as possible.
Key 5 Areas of Parenting Plans:
- What kind of parent do you want to be?
- What kind of parent do you want your spouse to be?
- What kind of relationship do you want to have with your children?
- What kind of relationship do you want your children to have with your spouse?
- What arrangements and guidelines can you put into your parenting plan that will enable you to meet your parenting goals?
The answers to these questions help clients to focus in on their core values and goals when it comes to parenting their children and can help to establish a respectful co-parenting relationship between parents, after divorce.
Attorney Barbara Nason on Parenting Plans
For clients who are experiencing significant difficulty in creating or updating a viable parenting plan or in establishing a healthy co-parenting relationship, oftentimes I will utilize the expertise of a Co-Parenting Consultant (a mental health professional who specializes in Parenting Plans and co-parent relationships). This can be a helpful way to assist clients to move forward and transition from ex-spouses to effective co-parents.
Contact Attorney Barbara Nason at 617 236-1800 for an initial consultation.