When there is a divorce in Maryland and children are involved, it adds a complex layer to the case. Parents will want the best for their children and a fundamental aspect of that is adhering to their personal, emotional and financial needs.
Still, maintaining a relationship with the other spouse can be difficult. Even parents who are reasonably cordial with one another can face complications. If the relationship is contentious, it can cause major challenges. Understanding key factors in a parenting plan is imperative.
How to create a comprehensive parenting plan
With the parenting plan, there will be a determination on legal custody – also known as decision-making authority. This means that a parent will decide on the important parts of a child’s life. That includes the medical care the child receives. The parties will come to an agreement as to how this will be addressed including whether there must be cohesion on non-emergency matters and how to proceed if it is an emergency. Notification is also vital with health care.
The child’s education is also important. Parents commonly disagree as to what type of education the child will get. Perhaps one wants the child to attend a religious school and the other does not. This must be considered. Children will have certain activities he or she takes part in. One parent might be agreeable to the child playing tackle football or another contact sport and the other is not.
This can lead to conflict and must be discussed with workable solutions as part of the parenting plan. Spending time with each parent is necessary and determining how that will be split is key with summer vacations, winter breaks and more.
Legal assistance may be needed with a parenting plan
Divorce and the end of a family unit can create myriad challenges. The children may be caught in the middle of the dispute. To avoid rancor and long-term hard feelings with a parenting plan, it may be useful to have mediation. If that fails, the court might be needed to address lingering issues that could not be settled.
Regardless of the state of the relationship, the child’s best interests must come to the forefront. With parenting plans and more in divorce and family law, consulting with a law firm experienced in these cases can be helpful.