When you decide to move forward with a divorce, it's easy to believe that your life will never be normal again. Despite the challenges you're sure to face, there's no reason to believe that you won't get through this.
If you have at least one child with the other person, it won't be long before you turn your attention to child custody, child support and other related details.
For most people, a parenting agreement is essential to a better future. With this in place, it's much easier to understand what you should and shouldn't be doing. Not to mention the fact that it gives you some guidance and structure when communicating with the other parent.
Here are the types of things you'll want to include in a parenting agreement:
- Where the child will reside, which is known as physical custody
- If one or both parents will have legal custody
- A visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent
- A schedule for holidays, birthdays and any other major life events
- A system for contact with other family members, such as grandparents
The best parenting agreements also have language about dealing with future disputes and changes. Even if you like a parenting agreement the way it is, it will probably need to change as your child ages.
Once you and your former spouse work through all the details, the parenting agreement will be sent to the court for final approval. As long as everything checks out, you can sign off on the agreement and then use this to your advantage in the months and years to come.
Divorce is always a challenge, especially if you have a child with the other parent. Even so, there are things you can do, such as creating a parenting agreement, which will make life easier for you in the future.
When going through mediation, don't be in a hurry. It can take some time to create a parenting agreement, review the document with your legal team, and make final decisions.