Divorce is rarely easy for anyone involved, and it can seem especially daunting when you have children in the mix. While navigating child custody and visitation during divorce can be complex, it’s not impossible. With the right resources and preliminary knowledge of the process, you can make informed decisions during a difficult time.
1. Understanding the Basics of Custody and Visitation
Assuming Custody
For most parents, determining a parenting plan for their children is the most important thing. This process is called ‘assumed custody.’ The person or people assuming custody of the children are called ‘custodial parents.’ Custodial parents are responsible for making and enforcing the rules, managing the finances, and providing daily care and nurturing for the children.
Your custody agreement should also include the following details:
- Who will have legal custody of the child?
- Who will have physical custody of the child?
- Who will be granted visitation rights?
- What schedule will the visitation follow?
- Will either parent have the right to move away?
Visitation Arrangements
Once custody has been decided, it is time to work out a visitation plan. This is the schedule of times that the non-custodial parent may visit with their children. Visitation times should be arranged so that both the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent have the opportunity to enjoy quality time with their children. It is also important to be flexible so that changes can be made as the children’s needs and interests change.
Parents may have different visitation rights depending on their current circumstances. Some of the most common visitation arrangements include:
- Extended weekends and holidays
- Alternating weekends
- Alternating days
- Alternate holidays
- Summer vacation
2. The Legal Process of Custody and Visitation
The legal process of deciding child custody and visitation is complex and difficult. In order to make sure that the child’s best interests are taken into consideration, it is important for the parties involved to understand the law.
When a couple is unable to reach an agreement, the court will decide their custody and visitation rights. The court factors in a variety of different elements, such as:
- The relationship between each parent and the child
- The emotional and physical health of each parent and the child
- The stability of each parent’s home
- The opinion of the child, depending on their age and mental capacity
The court will also consider any history of abuse or neglect. Depending on the circumstances, the court can grant sole physical custody or joint custody. Visitation rights are also decided, which can include weekend visitation, extended summer visitation, holiday visitation and supervised visitation.
3. Navigating Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understanding your rights and responsibilities as an employee is an important part of being part of the workforce. Failing to fulfill your duties can lead to serious consequences, but so can not knowing when to exercise those rights.
It may seem like a complicated landscape, but with the right guidance, navigating your rights and responsibilities should be fairly straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:
- Your Rights: You have the right to fair wages, paid vacations, appropriate workplace safety standards and workplace protection from discrimination. These are just some of the fundamental rights that employers must honor and uphold.
- Your Responsibilities: You have a responsibility to show up to work on time, fulfill your job duties and take care to protect confidential information. You should also be aware of any conflicts of interests that could affect the job you are doing.
Familiarizing yourself with both your rights and responsibilities is essential and will help ensure that your career is in good standing. Always reach out to your employer or supervisor if you have any questions, and be sure to consult a lawyer if you have any legal matters.
4. Reaching a Fair Agreement
Now that negotiations have resulted in a satisfactory outcome for all parties, it’s time to work on finalizing the agreement. Here are some tips for reaching a fair agreement:
- Figure out what everyone needs. Whether it’s support in expanding their customer base or gaining access to new technology, it’s important to gain an understanding of each party’s needs so a solution can be found.
- Look for a middle ground. Crafting a deal that meets the needs of all parties requires compromising on certain elements – you may have to give a little to get what you need.
- Communicate clearly. Open and honest communication is the key to success when negotiating solutions. This applies to everything from explaining the situation to ensuring that everyone agrees on the details of the deal.
Above all else, it’s important to remember that everyone’s needs and interests should be respected. During negotiations, it’s important to make sure no party is left feeling like they’re being taken advantage of. Striving for a fair agreement that’s beneficial to every participant should be the goal of all negotiations. When that is achieved, everyone can emerge from the negotiation table feeling satisfied and ready to take on the next challenge. The journey to finalizing child custody and visitation during divorce can be complex, but with the right help, you can make it through. Always remain informed and focused on the best interests of your child, and you’ll be ready to face whatever comes your way.
