When parents in Florida decide to divorce or end their romantic relationship, both may be committed to ensuring that it does not also mean the end of their relationship with the children. Coming up with a custody agreement can be challenging but also important for developing a stable environment for children after their parents decide to separate. A parenting schedule can lay out logistics and responsibilities for how a child’s time will be divided between his or her parents. By working together to create a plan, both parents can show their children that they are committed to putting the kids’ interests first.
There are several matters to consider for parents developing a child custody or parenting schedule. First, this means considering the needs and desires of the children. For some parents, full 50/50 custody where the child switches homes each week can be a good choice. This is especially true when parents live close enough to one another that the child’s access to school, friends and activities is not disrupted by the moves. In other cases, different forms of shared time, in which one parent has more weekend and vacation time, may be a better option.
In all cases, the children’s needs at all levels, including social, psychological, educational and logistical, should be the key priority. It is important for parents to put aside their personal conflicts with each other to develop such a plan without seeking to “win” against a former partner. This can also be critical to the future success of the plan when flexibility becomes necessary.
Parents can face significant challenges when they decide to divorce or end their relationships. A family law attorney may work with a parent to develop child custody and parenting plans and have them formalized in family court in order to protect the parent and their children.
