A relationship breakdown can bring with it a myriad of complexities, as you look to divide shared property and financial resources. These kinds of situations can be made increasingly complicated if there are children involved, where you will want to have their best interests at heart as you proceed with various legal and logistical arrangements.
Once two parents are living separately, responsibilities for the child need to be formally decided upon, to avoid misunderstandings and to provide a stable environment for the child in question. Drawing up a custody agreement will allow you to detail all of the logistical aspects involved in caring for one or more children, where this will ensure that both parties fully understand what is expected of them.
Read on to find out more about child custody arrangements, with a look at what you should discuss and the role a solicitor can play in this process.
What Is A Child Custody Arrangement?
Child custody agreements, also known as child arrangements or residence, allow for parents and guardians to specify their legal and practical responsibilities to a specific child or children.
These written agreements can be informal or formally dictated by the court, depending on the level of communication between the parties involved. Primarily, these agreements will specify the child’s primary residence and the amount of time each parent will spend with the child.
Typically, child arrangements are required following a divorce or separation, or in cases of parental death.
Agreeing On The Details
There are various details that need to be agreed upon between both parents or guardians in order to determine who will be looking after the child at specific times. These decisions should be made by considering what is best for the child, with a focus on their comfort, and a continuation of a normal routine.
Housing Options
Most importantly, the child agreement needs to cover where the child will live. Typically, these agreements dictate a primary residence for the child, although time spent with each parent can still be split evenly if needed.
Where the child will live will depend on which parent has the time and resources to care for the child for a larger percentage of time. Distance from the child’s school, other family members and friends should also be considered.
Time With Your Child
Once both parties have agreed where the child will live and when, it will be possible to draw up a schedule to decide how much time each parent will spend with the child. Time may be split equally, or one parent can opt to see the child less if this best suits their work schedule or the child’s routine.
You may also want to dictate specific terms for weekends, birthdays, holidays and other special occasions to avoid disagreements further down the line.
Communication Methods
The way parents communicate with their child and with each other will vary depending on how civil both parties are. For instance, you may be happy for your ex-partner to communicate with your child directly, without going through you, whilst others may prefer to mitigate contact.
Specifying whether communication will be carried out over the phone, via text or over email can also help to prevent disagreements in future. Some parents may prefer that their ex-partner does not contact the child when they are staying with them, whilst others may be willing to be more flexible on this matter.
Additionally, if both parties are unwilling to communicate with each other, then a third party can be named as a go-between. This can help to ensure any questions or concerns about custody can be addressed quickly before they escalate.
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