Life after a Georgia divorce often becomes challenging for single parents. You want to help your children grow up in a healthy, loving environment, which often means limiting your contact with your ex. Keeping your children’s personalities and best interests in mind can help you anticipate future issues and create a plan that allows them to maintain a relationship with you and your ex.
According to the Superior Court of Fulton County, parents who create a parenting plan agree that their children’s needs will change as they grow. You may go back to the judge if the schedule requires modification. However, proper planning may minimize or eliminate the time, effort, and costs of a trip to court.
Communication
The parenting plan you create can cover a variety of agreements, such as the following:
- Decisions regarding education, healthcare and religion
- Storing of passports and other important documents
- Holidays, vacations and other special occasions
- Discipline, chores and house rules
Communication is essential for successfully co-parenting your children. Avoid using your children as go-betweens and consider the method of communication that works best for each of you. This should include the way you resolve potential conflicts.
Control
Visitation and child custody have undergone many changes in the last few decades. The court-approved plans often split visitation into weekends, divided holidays and left it at that. It did not consider anyone’s particular needs. Today, every family is different, with unpredictable schedules and events that require a customized visitation schedule.
Your children’s needs evolve as they grow. Understanding the need for flexibility can help you develop a plan that meets those changing needs. As long as you and your ex can work together for the sake of your children, you can control the parenting schedule without interference from the court.
