Divorce and separation can be a complicated and emotional time for the whole family. Since children become used to structure and routine, a change in family dynamics or living situations can be upsetting or confusing. To ensure effective parenting, both parents should prioritise the needs of their children when making child arrangements.
Read on to learn more about making childcare decisions following a divorce or separation to minimise the impact on children and foster a positive co-parenting relationship.
Deciding Where The Child Will Live
Once a divorce or separation has been decided, parents must agree on where the child will live. Will one individual be the primary-caregiver or will child custody be split equally between both parents? When making this decision, remember to put the child's needs first and consider which parent has the most time to care for the child.
You should also consider your child’s current routine to minimise change and disruption to the child’s life. Think about which parent lives near the school and any extra-curricular activities the child may be involved in.
Contact With Children
Parents should decide how often the child will visit the parent they’re not living with to ensure the child receives regular quality time with each parent. If you move away from your child, parents must agree on how contact will be maintained. Visits with the child could be held somewhere between both parents, at a parent’s home or the home of a trusted member of family or friends.
Communication
The parents should decide on the level of communication the two will maintain and how to contact each other in case of an emergency. If this is not possible, agree on an intermediary person who can be contacted to relay information from one parent to another.
Parenting Plan
Once you have decided on all the necessary childcare arrangements, a parenting agreement should be written to highlight each parent’s responsibilities. This is useful for parents to refer back to if they are unsure of what has been agreed. Likewise, if a particular aspect of the agreement isn’t working, it can be reviewed.
Getting Help with Child Arrangements
In cases where communication with an ex-partner is difficult, parents can seek mediation. In mediation, a third party will list all the decisions to make and act as an intermediary between the parents to decide on child arrangements and formulate a parenting plan.
If arrangements aren’t working after the parenting plan has been decided, parents can return to mediation to re discuss terms and find a new solution.
Need Family Law Solicitors?
At DJP Solicitors, we offer comprehensive family law services in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas to assist your family in managing child custody, access, residence and communication matters.
Our family law solicitors will attempt to support family mediation with a voluntary agreement but offer court representation to acquire or oppose residence orders for child custody for more complex cases.
For more information, call us at 01224 590053 or get in touch online.
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