When you are dealing with child custody issues, you have to make a lot of decisions. At first, it might seem overwhelming to have to address everything this entails. The good news is that if you take steps now to make these decisions, there will be less stress in the in the heat of the moment later.
Many people don’t realize that the best child custody plan is one that is very detailed. Even though you want to include everything you can, you also have to find the balance between a detailed order and one with enough flexibility to allow you to address the child’s needs every step of the way.
Set a regular schedule
You need to set up the schedule that you will use for most of the year. In actuality, this might be two schedules. One includes what will happen during the school the year and the other pertains to summer vacation.
Coming up with a schedule can be difficult if you or your ex has an irregular work schedule. Some individuals, such as military members, doctors and service industry workers, might not be able to comply with a rigid child custody schedule. In these cases, provisions need to be made for what happens when the work schedule changes.
Plan for special events
Some days of the year, such as birthdays and holidays, will require special planning. You and your ex need to decide how to handle these special days. Will you and your ex alternate holidays so you have the children one Christmas and your ex has them the next? Or will you work together to see how family plans fall each year? Will you spend the days together with the children in a co-parenting type of situation? Deciding these now can help you greatly when you plan for these special days.
Decide how to handle disagreements
Unless you are very lucky, you will have to deal with disagreements with your ex at some point — or often! The resolution methods you choose for these issues should be mutually respectful and productive. By deciding on some of the most potentially contentions issues now, you can turn to the custody agreement for guidance. Above all, the child custody agreement should prioritize the child’s needs being met and respect between adults.