If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, your top priority will be the welfare and future of your children.
If you will agree to work together, you can create a parenting plan that will serve the best interests of your family.
Court requirements
In the state of Georgia, a parenting plan is a requirement for any child custody case. It is a blueprint for raising children in a post-divorce world. Through teamwork, you and your soon-to-be-ex can develop a plan that the judge will turn into an order as long as the focus is on the best interests of the children.
Major points
Your parenting schedule is one of the major parts of the parenting plan. The court will expect you and the other parent to spend as much time as possible with your children. Therefore, you should create a schedule that works on a rotating basis. Show how you plan to maintain this schedule. Include arrangements for spending time with the children during special events, holidays and summer vacations
Decision-making details
The court will also want to know how you plan to handle making major decisions on behalf of the children. Who will be responsible for matters concerning healthcare, for example? How will you manage expenses? How do you plan to communicate with one another and with the children once the divorce is final and there is a new family dynamic?
A look ahead
Once you and the other parent address the major points about raising your children, you can add anything else you want to the blueprint you are creating. A well-thought-out, well-written parenting plan will make your divorce and the transition to a new family structure go more smoothly.
