Why you should put your parenting plan into writing

As a parent, much of the discussions surrounding your divorce will be in regard to child custody and parental responsibilities. Even after the finalization of divorce and assignment of child custody roles, you and your co-parent still need to hash out a functional parenting plan.

A parenting plan is an outline of how co-parents will make decisions regarding the raising of their child and should also include a detailed parenting schedule. It is very important to understand why you should put your parenting plan into writing as soon as possible rather than relying on verbal agreements.

You can minimize the amount of time you spend in court

While the New York Family Court will ultimately make a ruling based on the child’s best interests, you would likely prefer to avoid the back-and-forth of establishing a parenting plan in a courtroom. Working with your co-parent to draft a parenting plan ahead of time can reduce the amount of time you spend before a judge.

Your parental rights will be under protection

A written parenting plan accepted by a judge is enforceable by the family court. This means that both parties must uphold their responsibilities and that one party cannot infringe upon the parental rights of the other.

It may lead to the best result for your family

Writing a parenting plan with your ex-spouse can be difficult and requires compromise, but the willingness to compromise can lead to the best arrangement for your family. It is also a good idea to consider the wants and emotional needs of your child when writing a plan that works best for everyone involved.

Making decisions based on verbal agreements can lead to unnecessary conflict in a co-parenting relationship. Consider putting every important decision into writing and modifying your parenting plan as needed.