When parents get divorced, they must make a parenting plan that covers every aspect of raising and providing for their children.
While child custody agreements and child support are important, they are only a portion of what parents are required to outline before they can finalize their divorce. A parenting plans lawyer in Bremerton can ensure you meet all requirements and prioritize the child’s best interest.
A Bremerton family lawyer from Dellino Family Law can help you navigate negotiations, decision-making, and potential disputes as you develop a parenting plan in your divorce.
Our team has extensive knowledge of Washington law and more than 180 years of combined experience navigating complex and difficult cases. We can protect your parental rights and help you and your spouse make decisions.
How a Parenting Plans Attorney in Bremerton Can Help
The thought of being separated from your child, even for a couple of days a week, can be difficult and emotional. It is also very common to have strong thoughts, emotions, and expectations for how parental responsibilities should be divided. This often sets the stage for conflict, which can quickly become contentious if parents are not willing to work together and reach a compromise.
To minimize conflict and streamline the parenting plan process, talk with Dellino Family Law as soon as possible. We walk you through what you need to know about parenting plans in Washington state so you can be sure that you and your partner develop a sound parenting plan that prioritizes your child. Not only can we advocate for your rights, but we can also help you complete all applicable paperwork.
Our attorneys can also recommend and guide you through mediation or other dispute resolution methods when needed. These avenues can provide the opportunity to work through your disagreements together and retain control over the final outcome of your parenting plan.
If you and your spouse reach an impasse, then our team can also help you pursue litigation and represent you throughout the process.
The Purpose of Parenting Plans in Bremerton
The purpose of a parenting plan is to physically provide for a child, ensure emotional stability, evolve to meet the child’s needs as they grow, outline parental responsibility, and protect the best interests of the child, per RCW 26.09.184. When finalized, this agreement thoroughly outlines all relevant aspects of a child’s care post-divorce and ensures both parents are clear on their roles and responsibilities.
A parenting plan should address several important factors, such as the child’s residence, how authority and decision-making responsibilities are distributed, and how conflicts should be handled as they arise. The goal of a parenting plan is to make sure that all parameters are clear so there is no ambiguity for parents or children. This fosters stability and protects each parent’s rights.
Parenting plans cover children under the age of 18 who do not have the legal capacity to make their own decisions. Older children may be allowed to have some say in who they live with and certain other aspects while the parenting plan is being drafted, but they do not have final say. Your lawyer can take this input into account as they help you negotiate the terms of your parenting plan.
Important Elements of a Parenting Plan in Bremerton
There are several important elements that should be included in a parenting plan. During your consultation, our team can walk you through what must be included in a parenting plan and also help you complete the parenting plan form. This ensures that you thoroughly consider all aspects of your child’s care, even areas you may not have thought of initially, so you do not leave anything out.
Common elements included in a parenting plan include where a child will live and how their time will be distributed between both parents each week, on vacations, and on special dates. Parents must also decide how decisions regarding education, health care, and religion will be made. Parents should also discuss legal rights and options if one parent relocates.
Creating a parenting plan requires forward thinking and attention to detail. As such, be sure to work with an experienced lawyer who knows how to guide you through this process with compassion. Dellino Family Law knows what your child means to you, and we are here to ensure that your access and relationship with your child is protected.
Modifying an Existing Parenting Plan
Once a parenting plan is finalized and approved by the courts, it is considered a binding order. If either party fails to comply with this order, the other party has the right to take legal action, and the offending party could face the consequences of not following a parenting plan. In the event that a parenting plan needs to be modified, it is essential that the right steps are taken to legally change it.
When it comes to altering a parenting plan, all actions must go through the court and cannot be done independently. According to RCW 26.09.260, parenting plans are generally not allowed to be modified unless there has been a significant change in circumstances, the child’s safety is in question, a parent has been convicted or held in contempt, or any other qualifying situation arises.
Both parents must agree to a modification as part of the requirements to modify the existing order. A Bremerton parenting plans lawyer can help you petition to change a parenting plan/residential schedule, or respond to a request by your co-parent. Not only can we help with logistics, but we can also make sure the child’s safety and stability are protected when making modifications.
Consult Dellino Family Law When Creating Your Parenting Plan
Dellino Family Law works diligently to help you and your spouse design a parenting plan that protects your child and fosters their well-being.
We know how challenging this process can be, and we try to help you outline the terms of your plan with as little conflict as possible. Meet with a Bremerton parenting plans attorney from our firm to discuss what you need to know as you move forward.