People are often surprised by the number of steps that they must complete to accomplish something. They may understand how to start something and what the finished product looks like, but they may have less of an understanding about what needs to happen between the beginning and end of a process. Divorce and child custody arrangements are like that for many people. They may think they just go to a lawyer, tell them what they want, and it gets done. In some situations, that is the case. However, in some cases, a divorce or child custody agreement requires more involvement from the spouses than they realize. One aspect of this process that many people don’t even realize exists is the creation of a parenting plan.
What Is a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan is an agreement that provides a schedule for when each parent spends time with the children and decides which decisions regarding the kids are shared or made by one parent or the other. In West Virginia, any case that involves child custody will require the parents to fill out a parenting plan form. Some of the issues covered on the West Virginia court system’s parenting plan form include:
- When, how, and how much the parents will communicate
- A schedule for when each parent will have time with the kids
- What decision-making responsibilities concerning the children each parent has regarding issues such as health, education, and religion
When deciding custody, courts in West Virginia will consider each parent’s proposed parenting plan when making final decisions regarding the child custody agreement.
How to Create a Parenting Plan
Parenting plan forms are provided by the court. There are two types of parenting plans. There is an individual parenting plan, which each parent creates on their own, and there is a joint parenting plan, which the parents create together. Whether you do an individual parenting plan or a joint parenting plan, the best way to create a parenting plan is with the guidance of an experienced child custody lawyer. A child custody lawyer will be able to help you craft a parenting plan that works best for your children, you, your co-parent, and your family’s unique situation.
Need Help Creating a Parenting Plan? Contact Our Experienced Family Law Attorneys Today!
Making a plan for how you will co-parent your children with your ex as part of a child custody agreement can be overwhelming. At Sutton & Janelle, PLLC, our experienced child custody lawyers understand that. That’s why we’re there for our clients through every step of the child custody process, including helping them craft their parenting plans. We understand what is at stake in child custody disputes because we have been successfully helping parents negotiate child custody agreements for years.
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To schedule a free & confidential consultation with our experienced child custody attorneys, call us at (304) 867-0049 or contact us online today.