Tips for establishing a parenting plan

 Posted on May 02, 2017 in Child Custody

If you are in the middle of an Illinois divorce, you may be asking yourself daily what is in the best interests of your children. Establishing a solid, mutually agreeable parenting plan is a great step toward helping your children adjust during the transitional period, and it can also help you and the other parent work to prevent disagreements before they occur. At Fawell & Fawell, we have assisted many clients as they navigate the complexities of divorce and related family law matters, and we have a broad understanding of Illinois laws as they relate to these subjects.

Per Divorce magazine, one of the most important steps you can take in creating your parenting plan is to avoid letting your emotions and personal feelings cloud your judgment. Even if your situation is especially acrimonious, try and keep in mind that your children have their best chance to thrive when they maintain relationships with both parents. There are, of course, some exceptions, such as if you suspect the other parent might be abusing substances while caring for your child. Otherwise, it is probably in the best interest of your child to maintain relationships and open lines of communication with both parents.

It may also help you co-parent to establish exactly how you and the other parent will communicate and coordinate pick-ups and drop-offs. For example, maybe the parent who has had the child most recently is the one to do the dropping off, or maybe you and the other parent agree to communicate exclusively through email to minimize the potential for animosity. Regardless of the final details of your parenting plan, it may be beneficial to enact it as soon as possible so that your children can begin to become familiar with it and adjust accordingly. For more about co-parenting and child custody considerations, visit our website.