When you go through a divorce, you have to divide up your assets and your liabilities. If you have children, you have to decide how you and your ex will share the children. While this process can be more difficult than deciding who gets the house and the car, it is possible for most parents to work together to come up with a parenting agreement that puts the child’s interests first.
A parenting agreement is the document that outlines child custody matters. The agreement goes far beyond simply listing who the child will live with. It also includes schedules for visitation, who will make major decisions for the child and how the child will be allowed to communicate with specific people. It will likely outline who the child will spend holidays with.
When you think about coming up with a parenting agreement with your ex, you might dread the process. Since you and your ex know your children best, the two of you should make a concerted effort to work together to come up with the agreement. If you and your ex can’t do that, the court will have to step in and issue directives about child custody matters.
If you and your ex are able to come to an agreement about the parenting plan, the court will review it. If it is approved, it is considered a binding agreement. This means that there are consequences if it is violated. With that in mind, it is vital for all parents who are going through a child custody battle to ensure that they understand the parenting agreement and abide by it once it is approved.
Source: FindLaw, “The Parenting Agreement,” accessed Sep. 30, 2015