Parenting plans outline the arrangements for child custody agreements and dictate when each divorced parent of a child spends time with their children. Parenting plans are often agreements that are negotiated between the two spouses, although sometimes they are court-ordered arrangements. Regardless of how a couple arrived at a parenting plan, there are some common issues surrounding these agreements. Below are the five most common issues, and how to prevent them.

Being Late for Pick-Ups and Drop-Offs

Sometimes parents run into unexpected circumstances, such as heavy traffic, when dropping off their child or picking their child up at the other parent’s home. While being late for an arranged pick-up or drop-off on occasion is not a call for concern, behaving in this way regularly may indicate a lack of respect for your ex’s time. It is always advised to try and be prompt for all pick-ups and drop-offs to avoid unnecessary disputes.

Canceling Plans Without Notice

Like being late for pick-ups and drop-offs, you may have to cancel plans that affect your parenting plan from time to time. While canceling plans may be necessary from time to time, try not to do it too often. It places a strain on your former spouse, as they will have to make different arrangements to ensure the child is supervised and cared for. If you must cancel your allotted parenting time, try to provide your former spouse with as much notice as possible.

Parenting plans are documents that outline the role each parent will have in their child’s life after divorce, and the responsibilities they carry. When parents cannot come to an agreement, a judge will issue a parenting plan. In either case, an agreement is legally binding once it is issued or approved by a judge. It is common to have questions about parenting plans, as they are not something many people have dealt with prior to divorce. Below are the answers to some of the most common questions people have about these plans.

What Should You Include in a Parenting Plan?

Even when you can agree with your spouse about a parenting plan, there are still certain factors you should include within it. Many people think parenting plans only outline child custody situations, but there is much more to them than that. A parenting plan should always include:

• The amount of time the child will spend at each parent’s home
• The manner in which you will communicate with a matter relating to your child
• How holidays, vacations, and special occasions will be spent
• Cultural and religious practices important to the parent and/or child
• The child’s medical needs, and the responsibilities each parent holds for meeting them
• Where the child will attend schooling
• The type of lifestyle the child will enjoy
• Discipline expectations
• Any special needs of the child
• The process of modifying the parenting plan, if necessary

When addressing each of these factors, parenting plans must always work in the child’s best interests.

A document created and agreed to by the parents of a minor child and approved by the court is known as a parenting plan. A parenting plan governs the relationship between the parents regarding the child. If you are going through a divorce and in the process of designing a parenting plan, the following tips can help ensure it is successful.

1. Determine Vacation Parenting

If your child is in school, they will have time off for winter break, spring break, and summer break. Determine which parent will be responsible for caring for the child during these times off from school.

Family law matters are often seen as emotional battles waged between spouses or parents. Child custody disputes are often seen as the some of most contentious cases because a child is involved. It can be very difficult for parents to come to terms with the way relationships will change after the custody dispute is resolved. Your relationship with your child and your child’s other parent will be affected, likely in many ways. However, in many cases it is essential for both parents to be able to move forward as co-parents for the child’s sake. Establishing a parenting plan or hiring a parenting coordinator can help with this.

Parenting Plans

The specific custody arrangements in your case will be unique to your circumstances. As with all child-related legal issues, Illinois requires that custody matters be decided in the best interests of the child. This means that a court order or any private agreement between parents must focus on what is best for the child, not necessarily what is easiest for the parents. As a parent, it may be hard to allow a judge to make this decision. After all, you know what is best for your child. Regardless of the final custody determination, you will most likely be interacting with your child’s other parent in the future. For your child’s sake, as well as your own, maintaining a civil relationship with that person is important. A parenting plan can help you plan the custody arrangement while also allowing you to effectively co-parent.