What is a Parenting Plan Agreement Review?
A parenting plan agreement is a contract that defines how parents will care for their child after being divorced or separated.
Reviewing it is necessary to ensure that the child’s wellbeing is still being prioritized. In fact, this document should be reviewed periodically when there are significant changes to the child’s life or needs.
If you need help with reviewing a parenting plan agreement, read the rest of this article for the key terms to review, general tips for reviewing the agreement, and how a qualified lawyer can assist you with the process.
What are Key Terms to Review in a Parenting Plan Agreement?
Some important elements to review in a parenting plan agreement include the following:
- Daily care. Check that the agreement specifies where the child will live and which parent provides daily care.
- Contact or visitation. Details regarding visitation schedules for the non-resident parent must be explained for clarity and to prevent disputes.
- Child maintenance. Financial contributions for the child’s needs must be outlined, with accurate amounts for expenses such as school fees or medical care.
- Communication. Ensure that how frequently the non-resident parent can communicate with the child is specified. This should also include information for how and when parents can communicate with each other.
- Decision making. Make sure that the agreement defines which party has the authority to make major decisions affecting the child, such as regarding education.
- Conflict resolution. If parents disagree about anything in the parenting plan, they should have a dispute-resolution method outlined to help them. This could include going to mediation or arbitration.
What are Tips for Reviewing a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan should be clear and specific so that parents can foster a healthy arrangement that best serves their child. Here are some tips for giving it a thorough review.
Include Drop-offs and Pickups
This is a detail that should be included in the parenting plan as it specifies who will pick up or drop off the child for visitation with the co-parent. This might, for example, be at the co-parent’s house or in a neutral setting.
Verify Transportation Rules
It’s important to define how parents will handle transport responsibilities, such as who will take the child to school and other events. Communication between co-parents is important here as there could be last-minute changes to the transport duties. Knowing how to navigate them will prevent disputes later.
Confirm Third-Party Relationships
In some cases, there might be a third party who will care for the child, such as a grandparent or friend of the family. It’s important to identify this person in the agreement so that both parties agree to them providing backup childcare when required.
Check all Healthcare Provisions
Healthcare is an important aspect to clarify in the parenting plan agreement. Consider the medical professionals who will treat the child, which parent will pay medical costs, and what health insurance coverage will be required.
Provide Clarity About Safety
Keeping the child safe is important to outline in the agreement as it covers various situations and activities. Check what agreed-on safety measures are included, such as rules regarding internet safety and curfews.
Do You Need a Legal Review of Your Parenting Plan Agreement?
Although you might not always need to hire a lawyer to review your parenting plan, it’s advisable to clarify its terms.
Hiring a lawyer is especially important if you and the other co-parent can’t see eye to eye or there are significant disagreements over the child’s wellbeing.
A legal review by a qualified lawyer can help you in various ways. A lawyer will:
- Explain both parents’ rights and obligations as set out in the agreement. This ensures both parties can be on the same page and fulfill the outlined expectations.
- Clarify any unclear or ambiguous wording in the contract that can put you at hidden financial risk.
- Provide rules for how to navigate future changes made to the agreement.
- Consider what happens if something goes wrong, such as if one party breaks the rules of the agreement so you can protect your interests.
- Evaluate if the agreement terms are fair and reasonable for both parties as this will minimize the future risk of disputes.
- Revise any terms in the agreement that should be changed so that the final draft is clear and legally sound.
- Customize the agreement to your specific parenting styles and situation. This provides a more comprehensive agreement than if you rely on a generic online contract template.
Where to Find a Lawyer to Review Your Parenting Plan
If you’re concerned about your parenting plan and would like it reviewed before agreeing to its terms, you don’t have to find it challenging to locate a reputable lawyer. Online legal platforms make the process easy and stress-free.
ContractsCounsel is one of the largest online legal marketplaces that connects you to a range of lawyers who are experienced and have been vetted on the platform.
Here is the process to follow if you want to hire a lawyer to review your parenting plan:
- Go to the ContractsCounsel marketplace, where it’s free to post your request or project.
- Include some information about the request, such as specific sections in the agreement that you’d like reviewed.
- Wait to receive bids. You’ll receive multiple bids from lawyers on the platform who are experienced to help you.
- Review the lawyers’ data. The platform provides a range of lawyer information you can review, such as the lawyers’ location, expertise, experience, and client ratings for previous projects completed on the platform.
- Select a lawyer to review your parenting plan agreement for a flat fee.
