Parenting plans are written documents that set out agreements between non-married or separated parents on how and where they will raise their children, how they communicate about their children, and how they will address other important parenting issues.
The goal of a parenting plan is to provide structure and stability for parents and children while minimizing conflict between parents and confusion for children. A successful plan will establish clear rules and guidelines for parents after separation or divorce. Creating a parenting plan in Ottawa is often the first step toward successful co-parenting. An experienced parenting time lawyer from the team at The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm could guide you through the process.
Parenting plans are crucial agreements that detail decision-making responsibilities and parenting time schedules. By consolidating both parents’ duties regarding their children in a single agreement, parenting plans ensure legal clarity and minimize disputes when followed. Further, parenting plans assist courts and lawyers in applying enforcement measures or implementing changes. Most importantly, parenting plans protect children’s best interests by recognizing their needs and promoting cooperation between parents.
How children spend time with each parent will depend on the circumstances. A common schedule in a parenting plan is shared parenting time. When children spend at least 40% of their time with either parent, courts consider this shared parenting time for child support guideline purposes under the Family Law Act, and they tend to prefer equal or shared parenting time unless other factors indicate otherwise. Scheduled parenting time with one parent and primary residence with the other parent allows one parent to exercise parenting time on weekends or certain days of the week. Supervised parenting time may apply when unsupervised time with one parent would present safety concerns.
Aside from the general parenting time arrangement, parenting plans can cover a wide range of topics, such as:
An effective parenting plan addresses these and other concerns. Lawyers with strong backgrounds in parenting arrangements and their associated risks could help Ottawa parents understand their options and establish agreements that help maintain strong bonds with their children.
Ideally, parents going through divorce or separation can sit down and work together on a parenting plan. However, this is not always possible. Mediators and lawyers in Ottawa offer professional help to guide families in preparing parental responsibility agreements that could benefit parents and children alike.
Our lawyers have experience in parenting time and divorce cases, and may also be able to anticipate future issues parents may not expect, which could make a parenting plan more effective and durable.
Parenting time plans are an important stepping stone toward strong family relationships after separation or divorce. Our skilled lawyers at The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm offer 24-hour availability to answer your questions and help you with the process of creating a parenting plan in Ottawa that could strengthen your relationship with your children. Call our law office today to learn more.
The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm
