Divorce can leave the children feeling confused and unsure of what is going to happen next. However, as you navigate the emotional and financial turbulence that comes with the divorce, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle you need to work out is creating a parenting plan that will work for everyone involved.
The Florida Family Code encourages divorced parents to actively participate in the upbringing of their child regardless of the nature of their relationship. And this is where a co-parenting plan comes in.
How do you create a co-parenting plan that works?
A good co-parenting plan can make things much easier for everyone – both parents and the kids. Here are three issues you want to keep in mind when creating a co-parenting plan:
Put the kids’ best interests first
A co-parenting plan is not centered around you or your co-parent. Rather, try to put yourself in your children’s shoes and think about how their lives will be impacted by the divorce. If you feel a particular stipulation will subject your child to undue emotional influence, then you need to reconsider your objectives.
And if your children are old enough, you may consider their input when drafting a co-parenting plan.
Be ready to make concessions
While you will ultimately want a co-parenting plan that works for everyone, you do realize that, just like everything else in life, a good plan is a product of compromise and concessions. If your ideal co-parenting plan will disadvantage the other parent in any way, be ready to make concessions.
Think long-term
Unless you are thinking about modifying the custody order down the road, you want a co-parenting plan that will see you raise your kids. In other words, plan for the future. How will your decisions impact the kids as they grow older? What if one or both of you remarry or relocate to another state?
Safeguarding your child’s best interests
A lot of thought goes into creating an effective co-parenting plan. Understanding how Florida family laws work can help you draft a co-parenting plan that will work for everyone involved.