Child custody cases are some of the most difficult matters that many parents will face. Trying to figure out who gets the children when and attempting to set some semblance of normalcy while the child’s entire life is changing is a big undertaking. There is one point that must be the priority in these cases. This is ensuring that every decision you make is based on what’s best for the child.
While the other areas of the divorce might entail hashing out facts about what each partner did, you can’t do this in child custody. Unless one parent is abusive toward the children or has something going on that puts the kids in danger, none of the factors for the divorce should come into the picture.
The parenting time schedule is one aspect of custody that might cause a lot of disagreement. Both parents likely want as much time as possible with their children. Taking the time to think about when the child has activities and when the parents will work might help ensure that the kids get as much time to spend with each parent as possible.
Each aspect of the parenting plan should be as clear as possible. Avoiding ambiguity can help you avoid future problems since there won’t be room for misinterpretation of the order. As you’re setting these terms, think about what the child needs now. Trying to think too far into the future can lead to you having issues with making the plan work. You can always consider a modification of the order as the child’s needs evolve.