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Parenting Arrangements After Separation
September 15th, 2021 | by newwaylawyersFollowing separation there are four approaches that parents can take when setting up future parenting arrangements for their children. Determining which approach is best depends on several factors.
How should I structure parenting agreements after separation?
If you are a parent who has recently separated, answer the 3 questions below to find out which approach might be suitable for your family. Read each question and answer A, B, C or D choosing the response that best describes your situation .
The communication between you and your ex is generally:
- Very good – we communicate regularly and easily and agree about most parenting matters;
- Good – we communicate when required and when we have differences, we work these out;
- Poor – we communicate mainly by text or email and struggle to resolve our differences;
- Non-existent – we are unable to communicate at all and disagree about everything.
The level of trust between you and your ex is generally:
- Very High – we keep our word and uphold our agreements;
- High – there have been a few minor issues with agreements not being followed;
- Low – there have been times when core agreements have not been followed;
- Very Low – there is no agreement to uphold.
Describe your preference regarding the structure for parenting arrangements:
- Very Low: flexibility and being able to change arrangements as needed is a high priority;
- Low: routine has a place but the ability to make changes to arrangements is more important;
- High: routine is important and the ability to make changes should be limited;
- Very High: consistency and certainty are very important.
Your results suggest…
Mostly A’s – A verbal agreement may be the suitable arrangement for your family.
Mostly B’s – A parenting plan may be the preferred pathway for your family .
Mostly C’s – A consent order may be the best option for your family.
Mostly D’s – A parenting order made by the court may be what is needed for your family.
What things should I include in my parenting arrangement?
For the things you should include in your parenting arrangement, see the image below and further information can be found here.
The above should in no way be construed as legal advice. If you would like legal advice about parenting arrangements or other family law matters call (07) 3548 5868 for a free 20-minute phone consultation with one of our family lawyers.
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Things to consider in a parenting arrangement after separation
August 24th, 2021 | by newwaylawyersThere are several topics that should be included in any post separation parenting arrangement, regardless of whether the parenting arrangement is structured as a verbal arrangement, parenting plan, consent order or court order.
Decision making
A post separation parenting arrangement should outline how major long-term decisions will be made for the children, namely, whether decisions will be made jointly by the parents or whether one parent will make the decisions and then inform the other parent.
Parental communication
Children should not be used as messengers between the parents. Instead parenting arrangements should provide for a standard means of communication between by the parents. Some options include email, text, phone or a communication app. It is also wise for parenting arrangements to include a process for dispute resolution in case an issue arises that cannot be resolved.
Schedules for the children
A schedule setting out how the children spend time with each parent is an essential part of any parenting arrangement. A consistent schedule can be set up to apply through both the school terms and school holidays or there may be different schedules for the school terms and the school holidays. Any schedule that is set up should be age appropriate and promote the children’s best interest.
Special occasions
Any parenting arrangement should include details of how the children will share their time with each parent on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and other special occasions.
Changeovers and transitions
To avoid disputes and confusion parenting arrangements should cover how the children transition between each household. These arrangements should include the day and time of the changeover, the location of changeovers and consent to other family members or friends facilitating changeover.
Miscellaneous
There are range of other topics that can be included in parenting arrangements such as extracurricular activities, passports and travel,
Finances
Generally, financial support of the children is dealt with separately from parenting arrangements. Parents who have covered details of financial support for the children in parenting arrangements should seek advice from a family lawyer about how to formalise financial support arrangements.
If you need assistance drafting your parenting plan, or advice on parenting arrangements and legalities, call us today on (07) 3548 5890 or contact us here for a free 20 minute consultation with an experienced family lawyer.