Parenting Plan Modification – Parent Plan Issues after Divorce
As the years go by and the issues surrounding parenting become more complex, parents are either less likely to adhere to their previously agreed upon parenting plans or find that no agreements were ever made and in turn, need help resolving the issues that inevitably present themselves. Issues that arise include, but are not limited to:
- Holiday Schedules
- Vacation Schedules
- Healthcare Issues
- Education Issues
- Religious Issues
- Gift Giving and Spending Money Issues
- Communication Issues Between Parents
While the reasons vary from couple to couple, below you will find the three most common scenarios that trigger a need to discuss parenting plans post divorce. In each of these cases, mediation can help divorced couples resolve the issues pertaining to their children peacefully, efficiently and with as little impact to the family as possible.
As Children Get Older
It’s a fact of life that children grow up. Perhaps your children were very young when you divorced in which case your children have outgrown the parenting plans you and your ex-spouse agreed to at the time. What was an important issue to discuss when your son or daughter was three now seems irrelevant as a teenager. Mediation can help you resolve age-specific issues with regard to parenting and help each of you focus on what matters most for your child at any stage of their life.
When No Plan Existed
Some couples who chose a more contentious path to divorce such as collaborative divorce or litigation find that in their anger, they forgot the one thing that matters most: their children. When focus on the financial matters of divorce such as equitable distribution or alimony and spousal support took precedence over developing a detailed parenting plan, couples need assistance with outlining in detail the issues that they face as parents and how they will mutually agree to manage them. Mediation is an excellent way to do this without having to once again go through the painful, contentious process of going to court and litigating.
When you’d like to Change the Plan
Perhaps you did agree on a parenting plan when you first divorced and now that some years have passed, you’d like to modify it. With the help of a caring and knowledgeable professional mediator, mediation is a great way to discuss your original parenting arrangements and work through the issues you’d like to re-visit or modify without going to court.
In Conclusion
No matter which situation you find yourself in, post divorce mediation has worked for thousands of couples throughout New Jersey and it can work for you too. Should you have any specific questions regarding parenting plans in your particular situation, please contact us to set up an appointment for you and your ex-spouse either via telephone or in one of our many convenient Northern or Central New Jersey locations where we will learn more about the specifics of your situation and help guide you to a solution that works for each of you and puts the needs of your children first.
