Shared custody is challenging, but having an effective parenting plan in place can make it more manageable. Working with a parenting plans lawyer in Spokane can help you to ensure your rights as a parent are protected and that a fair and equitable plan is established.
At Dellino Family Law, we are committed to advocating for you. With over 180 years of combined experience, our attorneys understand how vital a solid parenting plan is for the security of your children, and our Spokane family lawyer is here to support you through the process.
Washington Courts Require Parenting Plans in Most Custody Cases
In Washington, family courts will often require a formal parenting plan when parents separate or divorce. The parenting plan becomes a court order and outlines how parenting responsibilities will be handled moving forward.
A parenting plan often addresses:
- How will time be divided
- Holiday and vacation schedules
- Decision-making responsibilities, such as healthcare and education choices
- Transportation arrangements
- Communication guidelines between parents
The goal is to create structure and stability for the child. Working with an attorney can help to protect your rights and ensure you understand what you need to know about parenting plans in Washington State.
Parenting Plans Can Be Simple or Highly Detailed
Some parenting plans are straightforward, requiring less detail and fewer guidelines. Others become much more detailed, depending on the relationship between the parents. A relatively cooperative co-parenting situation may require only basic scheduling terms, whereas high-conflict cases often require much more specific language to reduce future disputes.
A strong parenting plan may include rules surrounding drop-off and pick-up between parents, school communication, travel plans, and medical care. By having a detailed parenting plan up front, you help to avoid discrepancies down the road.
The ultimate goal is to ensure your child feels supported in a stable environment. By having a consistent plan with rules that all parties abide by, you provide stability for your child, so they are affected by the separation as little as possible.
Parenting Schedules Are Often the Biggest Source of Disagreement
One of the most common custody disputes involves how much time each parent spends with the child. Courts consider several factors when reviewing parenting schedules. These may include:
- The child’s age and routine
- Each parent’s work schedule
- School and daycare needs
- The parent-child relationship
- Distance between households
The court focuses on creating a schedule that supports consistency and stability for the child. Working with a Spokane parenting plans lawyer can provide guidance on how best to represent your child’s interests to ensure the plan is most conducive to their needs.
Holiday and Vacation Schedules Should Be Clearly Defined
Holiday schedules can easily be a source of conflict. Many parenting plans include rotating holidays every other year or splitting holidays. While each family has an idea of what they believe is most fitting for their situation, it is important to include that in the plan.
School breaks are often a time when families take vacations, so outlining who your child will be with during each break can be a crucial step. Some families may be able to be flexible, but others may not, so to avoid conflict, they may opt to add these breaks into their parenting plans.
Other special occasions may include birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, religious holidays, and other times throughout the year when your family may plan to get together.
Outlining these occasions early on ensures that, later on, no party can claim they were unaware of or did not agree to a particular holiday schedule.
Decision-Making Authority Can Become a Major Issue
Parenting plans often address which parent has authority to make important decisions involving the child. These decisions may involve:
- Education
- Medical care
- Religious upbringing
- Counseling or therapy
- Extracurricular activities
Some parents share decision-making jointly. In other cases, one parent may receive final authority in certain areas. Having a dedicated Spokane parenting plans attorney on your team means having an advocate on your side whose number one goal is to fight for your rights as a parent.
Parenting Plans in Spokane May Need to Address Long-Distance Parenting
Not all parents live close to one another after separation. When distance becomes an issue, parenting plans may need additional details involving transportation, virtual communication, and travel costs. At Dellino Family Law, we have experience handling long-distance plans and may be able to help.
These scenarios require extra care when it comes to developing your parenting plan. When parents live far apart, it is not uncommon for your child to live with one parent for the majority of the year and only visit the other during holidays and school breaks. These details must be thoroughly outlined.
Parents of older children may require less detailed communication with their children. Still, for younger children, regular video and phone calls may be included in parenting plans to ensure each parent can connect with the child regularly.
Modifying a Parenting Plan Usually Requires a Significant Change
Parenting plans are not always permanent and may require adjustment over time. Washington courts may allow modifications when major life changes occur. Modification requests may involve:
- Relocation
- Changes in work schedules
- Ongoing co-parenting problems
- Safety concerns involving the child
- Changes in the child’s needs
Courts generally require a substantial reason before changing an existing parenting arrangement, and a Petition to Modify must be filed. Your parenting plans attorney in Spokane may be able to assist with paperwork.
Poor Communication Between Parents Can Create Ongoing Problems
For a parenting plan to be effective, both parents must follow it and communicate. While this is often difficult after a separation, if the plan is followed, it may help eliminate conflict.
There are consequences for not following a parenting plan, both legal and personal. Legally, you could be held in contempt, be issued fines, and potentially lose some of your parental rights. You also lose trust in your co-parent, which further burdens the relationship.
If consistent exchanges are missed, last-minute schedule changes occur, or there is poor communication about school or medical care, your child often suffers the most. Having an attorney on your side may be able to help if your co-parent is not abiding by your agreement.
Dellino Family Law Is Here to Advocate for You
Your child deserves the best, and having a solid parenting plan in place helps to provide a stable, safe home. At Dellino Family Law, we are here to fight for your family. Co-parenting can be hard, but we are here to help make the process easier.