Crafting a parenting plan that works for everyone

When parents in California have to navigate the process of creating a child custody order because they are splitting up, the courts will generally require that they draft a parenting plan as well. As long as both parents intend to remain active in their children’s lives, a parenting plan will likely serve as a mandatory element of a family’s broader custody arrangement.

Like custody division concerns, parenting plan terms must be crafted in the best interests of the minor child that two co-parents share. However, this does not mean that each parent’s world must suddenly revolve around their child. Parents typically need to work in order to provide for their kids, and they have their own needs as well.

Simply because a parenting plan needs to be focused on a child’s well-being, that doesn’t mean that the child’s parents have to force themselves into a truly unmanageable situation. A parenting plan can be crafted in ways that work for everyone.

Reasonable expectations (and flexibility, when appropriate)

If you and your co-parent are always fighting, navigating tension and failing to meet the unworkable terms of your parenting plan, that will not serve your child’s best interests. As a result, you’ll want to consider crafting your parenting plan in ways that are manageable for you and your co-parent.

By carefully considering whether the expectations you’re setting for each other are reasonable, you can potentially avoid a lot of preventable tension and conflict. If you build some flexibility into terms – when possible and appropriate – you can also safeguard against tension incurred when the unexpected rears its inevitable head.

If you’re unsure of how to craft parenting plan terms that set workable expectations and are appropriately flexible, that’s okay. You can seek legal guidance at any time.