How to Develop a Great Parenting Plan

When parents split, the dynamics of the entire family change. Two households are created, living arrangements are no longer the same, and the children no longer have both their parents with them at the same time. To minimize stress and set the groundwork for a positive future, you and your spouse should put aside personal differences and create a great parenting plan that is both realistic and favors the needs of your children.?This is true whether you are in a?litigated, collaborative, or mediated divorce.

Connecticut Parenting Plans

Connecticut law (C.G.S. 46b-56a-d) specifies that parenting plans take the following elements into account:

• Which parent will decide matters pertaining to the child’s schooling, medical needs, and religious upbringing
• A visitation arrangement that takes holidays and vacations into account
• Plans for resolving future disputes
• How to resolve situations when one parent fails to meet parenting plan obligations
• How to meet the changing needs of the child as he or she grows
• Provisions for keeping parental conflict from stressing the child
• Ways of ensuring that you and your ex will compromise to uphold the child’s best interests

Creating a parenting plan that works for everyone will require both of you to orient your decisions around the best way to meet the emotional, physical, and financial needs of the children. You will have to discuss and agree upon key issues such as legal and physical custody.

Once Your Parenting Plan Is Created

After you and your ex agree on a plan, you will have to submit it to the court, where a judge will analyze it to confirm that it is in accord with the child’s best interests. Under CGS 46b-56c, the following factors will be taken into account to determine if your parenting plan is feasible:

• Your child’s temperament and developmental needs
• The preference of the child if he or she is old enough to state it
• The relationship of the child with you, your ex, any siblings, and other people who affect their well-being, such as extended family members
• The ability of each parent to be involved in the child’s life on an active basis
• The length of time the child has been in his or her current environment
• The mental and physical well-being of everyone involved

If the court concludes that the parenting plan is fair and meets the essential needs of the child, an order will be made to approve it. From that point on, you and your ex (now co-parent) must keep track of your schedule and agree to resolve disputes amicably or, at the very least, in a way that limits stress for the children.

While divorce cannot always be prevented, a good parenting plan will reduce its negative impact on your children and help them move forward with the love and active support of both parents.

For more information about parenting plans in Connecticut, contact Freed Marcroft today. We will help you create a workable arrangement that meets the needs of your children and gives them the foundation for a happy and emotionally secure future.

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Freed Marcroft’s attorneys guide select clients through the legal aspects of divorce and family law issues while remaining mindful of their overall wellness.

To discuss our helping with your situation, contact us today either?here?or by phone at?860-560-8160.