After a separation involving children, terms can become exceedingly complex. Deciding how time will be split, how decisions will be made, and the countless other decisions that must be made regarding raising a child can create conflict between co-parents. Working with a parenting plans lawyer in Vancouver can help you secure the best outcome for your family.
At Dellino Family Law, we understand that your child and their well-being are your number one priority. With over 180 years of combined experience, we know what it takes to navigate family court. Our Vancouver family lawyer is here to support you, helping you to navigate this new chapter while protecting your most valuable asset, your family.
A Parenting Plan Is More Than a Custody Schedule
People often think of custody as simply deciding which parent has time with the children and when. In reality, a parenting plan is much more detailed and thought-out. Your parenting plans attorney in Vancouver can help you understand what you need to know about parenting plans in Washington State. A parenting plan may have provisions regarding:
- Residential schedules
- Decision-making authority
- Holiday schedules
- How to deal with future disputes
Successful parenting plans are detailed and anticipate as many potential scenarios as possible. By creating a plan that covers all areas of your child’s life, you may reduce the need to return to court for amendments later and provide more stability for your child, as they know what to expect.
The Best Parenting Plans Work in Real Life
A parenting schedule may look reasonable on paper, but when put into practice, it quickly becomes unrealistic. Parents should consider how an arrangement will actually fit into their family’s life. Issues worth considering can include:
- School and daycare schedules
- Parents’ work hours
- Transportation between homes
- Distance between each parent’s homes
- Extracurricular activities
- The child’s age and developmental needs
- Other household members’ schedules, such as siblings
Parenting schedules should be realistic and put your child’s best interests first. This helps create stability and predictability while preserving meaningful relationships with both parents, which can be invaluable for your child’s development.
Holidays Can Become a Problem Faster Than You Think
Holiday and school vacation schedules are a must when putting together a successful parenting plan. School vacations should also be explicitly detailed. With kids out of school, parents need to consider their work schedules and potential accommodations, how vacations will be decided, who will set up camps or alternative childcare, and how that will be communicated.
Other holidays to consider can be Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. If Mother’s Day falls on a day your child is typically with dad, how would that be handled, and vice versa? Additionally, birthdays should be considered, not just for your child but for parents, siblings, and other close family members or friends.
Someone Has to Make the Big Decisions
Raising children can involve making major decisions, and sometimes co-parents do not agree. It is important to specify who has final decision-making authority for medical care and when they must consult the other parent. This can include smaller decisions about medications or non-invasive procedures, as well as life-altering or life-or-death decisions.
Education is another area co-parents must discuss before creating a parenting plan. Co-parents should consider what school the child will attend, how to handle slipping grades or the need for additional help, how to address behavior issues, and when other interventions are needed before finalizing a parenting plan.
In Washington State, the court has specific statutes that address decision-making authority in emergency scenarios (RCW 26.09.184). It states that in emergency situations, either parent may make decisions if it affects the health and safety of the child. This helps ensure your child is not harmed if the other parent is unreachable or if decisions must be made immediately.
Washington Courts Put the Child First
When entering parenting plan negotiations, it is important not to approach it as a “winner-loser” situation, but as a plan that will help your child have the most secure upbringing possible. Courts view these arrangements as such and aim to do what is in the best interest of your child. Some things they consider can include:
- Your child’s relationship with each parent
- Each parent’s ability and past performance of standard parenting functions
- Your child’s emotional and developmental needs
- Relationships with siblings and other family members
- School and other important activities
- Parents’ employment schedules
While a judge does consider what a child’s choices may be, there is no set age at which a child can choose who to live with in Washington State. The courts will consider the situation as a whole and use their best judgment to determine the outcome. Your Vancouver parenting plans attorney from Dellino Family Law can help you navigate the courts, helping you to secure the best-case scenario.
You Do Not Have to Let a Judge Write Your Parenting Plan
Some co-parents are able to put their own issues aside and create a plan together that they can both feel good about. They can determine residential and holiday schedules, how decisions will be made, how to handle potential behavior issues, or education choices. If a mutual decision can be reached, this is often the best-case scenario for everyone.
If there are some areas that you cannot agree on your own, mediation may be an effective tool. This can include a court-appointed third party to help facilitate negotiations. While they can help co-parents agree on a plan, a judge must still sign off before anything becomes legally binding.
Your Vancouver parenting plans lawyer can review the plan, identify potential issues, and help negotiate terms where both parties may not agree 100%. This can help prevent potential future conflict areas from being missed.
The Vancouver Parenting Plans Lawyers at Dellino Family Law Are Here to Represent You
No two parenting plans are exactly the same, and at Dellino Family Law, we understand that each plan must be tailored to you and your family.
Contact our Vancouver parenting plans attorneys today to start creating your parenting plan, ensure security, and fight for your child’s best interests.
