Developing an effective parenting plan can be a source of contention between individuals who are no longer together. However, there are many ways people can work with one another to come to an agreement on parenting together.
Having a clear sense of one’s priorities can help eliminate details that are not worth fighting over. For example, one person may favor having the children for certain holidays that the other parent may have very little interest in. Both parents should draft a list of the dates and occasions throughout the year that are important to them. They should use the list as a reference to remind themselves of exactly what is most important to them as they begin negotiating with their exes.
Part of being able to compromise is being able to make concessions to the other party. In fact, conceding something that the other parent wants is a great way for individuals to obtain what they want. Since both parties are aware of what the other person values the most as far as scheduling, inquiries can be made about what on their list they would be willing to trade to keep what they really want. For instance, if one parent prefers to have the children stay overnight on a date that means something special to him or her, the other person, for whom that date is not important, can offer it up as a form of compromise.
An attorney who practices family law may assist clients with obtaining favorable resolutions to complicated legal issues related to child custody. A lawyer may advocate on behalf of clients during negotiations regarding parenting time, visitation rights and scheduling and parental relocation. An attorney may engage in litigation to protect the interests and rights of clients during disputes regarding modifications to existing child custody orders.