Child custody is an integral part of a divorce involving children. In Michigan, a child has a right to parenting time with each parent unless stated otherwise by a judge. Thus, it will help to create a plan to ensure your kid(s) are well taken care of after your divorce.
Here is why you need a parenting plan.
1. Avoids conflicts
Undoubtedly, child custody can have conflicts if parents can’t agree on crucial matters, such as:
- Where the kid(s) will live
- How to raise them
- If they should transfer schools
- How to make decisions
- Where to spend the holidays, and so on.
A parenting plan can help you avoid these conflicts. If you can agree on major matters, you can make and change your plan without going to court. But if you can’t, a judge can help you create a fair plan.
2. Clarifies a schedule
Raising kids requires organization, but you can always do unplanned things. However, this is not the case with raising them in two homes. You need a plan that states when they will go to the other home, how the other parent will do the pick-up and drop-off and how parents can communicate, among others.
Without a determined schedule, kids can get confused, affecting the kids. You don’t want your kids to be confused about where they will be during the weekend or who will pick them up from school.
3. Puts the child’s best interests first
Decisions made in a divorce involving children should be in their best interest. Having and following a parenting plan indicates a commitment to this. It will be best to get legal guidance to create a plan that protects your parental rights.
