Once you and your spouse have decided to divorce, you are immediately faced with a barrage of decisions to make. Choices related to child custody and relocation in Illinois can be both time consuming and difficult to work out. However, with a properly written co-parenting agreement in place, you can confidently anticipate parenting time with your children.
According to Psychology Today, there are several important factors that you must consider when formulating your parenting plan. These include the following areas:
- Modification agreements: As your children grow and situations change, you may wish to modify the agreement you previously made. It is imperative in your original document to include a time period for which the agreement will be effective and any modification clauses you anticipate to be necessary.
- Individual responsibilities: Perhaps there are some areas of parenting you wish to have full control over and others you hope your spouse will take care of. Additionally, there may be a large portion of parenting, responsibilities and accomplishments the two of you wish to share. Take your time in articulating shared responsibilities and determining who is responsible for what.
- Holiday arrangements: You should always include a section that discusses how holidays and special occasions will be worked out. Doing so can help reduce conflict and will also establish a routine that your children can benefit from.
A brief statement at the beginning of your agreement should clearly define what the purpose of the document is. The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
