Parents who live apart must submit a detailed document to the court that describes how they plan to raise their children. When parents cannot agree, a court decides based on what the judge believes serves the children’s best interests.
Creating a parenting plan in New Haven requires cooperation between the parents and a willingness to put the children’s needs first. Guidance from an experienced child custody attorney can be helpful in focusing the plan to reflect the children’s best interests.
Couples must submit a parenting plan to the court for incorporation into a custody order. Couples who cannot agree on a plan each submit their proposed plan, and the judge will either choose between them or substitute a different plan. Establishing a comprehensive parenting arrangement in New Haven involves addressing several elements.
Legal custody is the authority to decide matters pertaining to the child’s education, religion, and health care. Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-56a(b) states that shared legal custody is presumed to be in a child’s best interest unless there is evidence otherwise.
The parenting plan must allocate responsibility between the parents. If they share decision-making, the plan must establish a mechanism for them to resolve disputes. An attorney can explain various dispute resolution options that parents may include in their plan.
The parenting plan must describe where the children will live. Although the law favors meaningful contact with both parents, the plan must reflect the children’s needs. If the parents live far apart, a plan that calls for transfer during the school week may not be feasible.
The parenting plan must address where the children will spend school holidays and special days such as Thanksgiving, birthdays, and end-of-year holidays. Parents typically plan to each spend extended time with the children during the summer break.
The parenting plan must assign responsibility for transporting children between the parents’ homes and to school and activities.
The parenting plan must address child support, health and dental insurance for the children, and other financial issues. The parenting plan should indicate how the cost of extracurricular activities will be divided.
The children’s needs will change over time, especially if they are very young when the parenting plan takes effect. The plan should contain a mechanism for addressing these changes as they arise.
While shared custody is the norm for Connecticut families, a shared custody arrangement can take numerous forms. When developing a New Haven custody plan, practical considerations such as the parents’ work schedules, the children’s activities, and travel time between the parents’ homes will dictate the best arrangement in a specific case.
Many families decide that one parent will have custody during the school week and alternate weekends. The other parent may have the children overnight or just for dinner one night a week. In some families, a more equal division of time is possible, with children transferring homes during the school week.
Judges focus on the frequency of contact when evaluating parenting plans. Very young children may need to see a non-custodial parent every few days to develop a bond. As children get older, the emphasis might change to ensuring enough time together to have meaningful shared experiences.
Parenting plans require thoughtful consideration, with the primary focus always on the children. Everyone benefits when parents work together on creating a parenting plan in New Haven. Our attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers PLLC can guide you throughout negotiations to develop a workable plan that supports your children, so contact us today for help with your case.
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