Every divorced parent in Mississippi wants to protect their kids from the repercussions of their split. One of the easiest ways to achieve this goal is to create a successful parenting plan. Since conflict between parents is often what hurts kids the most, a detailed parenting plan can help to establish a healthy co-parenting relationship that works for everyone.
What exactly is a parenting plan?
A parenting plan is a legal document created by both parents that outlines how each parent will raise their children. This agreement often addresses issues such as:
- The child’s education
- The child’s emotional well-being
- A time-sharing schedule
- How health care decisions will be made
A parenting plan spells out the details of how the parents will share daily tasks and how much time the child will spend with each parent. It also includes details about which parent will be responsible for the child’s medical needs and school-related matters.
Do you really need to create a parenting plan?
One of the most disputed aspects of a divorce is child custody and visitation rights. Even if you’re on speaking terms with your soon-to-be-ex, conflict can easily come up without a parenting plan that clearly defines each parent’s roles and responsibilities. You may feel that you might not need to draft a formal agreement, but a parenting plan can be incredibly beneficial to your entire family.
A parenting plan can help you avoid unpleasant surprises such as how you’ll both handle disciplining your child or where your child will spend holidays. It can also help you avoid fights about who said what since it records agreements that you’ve both made for future reference.
Although the thought of drafting a parenting plan might seem overwhelming, it can protect your child from future conflict. An attorney may help you create a successful parenting plan to avoid turmoil later on.
