A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents who are divorcing, or maybe have never been married but no longer wish to live together, that outlines the responsibilities and expectations for custody, visitation, financial obligations, and other parenting issues that may be specific to your situation. Though often included as part of a separation agreement, a parenting plan is not a requirement for separation or divorce in Virginia.
An experienced Virginia family law attorney can help you put a parenting plan together that is fair, covers the specific needs of both parents and the minor children, resolves problems, and avoids bitter and expensive custody disputes. A parenting plan also allows you to avoid the scenario in which a judge makes decisions for you. If you can work through these issues now, you can avoid time-consuming and costly litigation in the future. It may also help you maintain a better relationship with your children’s other parent. All parenting plans should take into consideration:
At the very least a parenting should outline the following in as much detail as possible:
A Virginia parenting plan should allow both parents to maintain an active role in the lives of their children. It should also provide both parents with a clear understanding of their rights and obligations after the divorce. It is specific to your unique situation and tailored to meet the needs of both parents and children. If parents can’t reach an agreement on a parenting plan, the court will reach one for them. In doing so, the judge, by law, must consider only the needs and best interests of the children.
Melone Hatley, P.C. is a general practice law firm and serves Virginia Beach and the Northern Virginia area. Our practice areas include Family Law, Divorce and Special Needs Children, Traffic Ticket Defense, DUI/DWI Defense, and Trust and Estate Law. Our philosophy is to provide all of our clients with the highest quality legal representation, innovative legal solutions, and unsurpassed dedication to customer service. Through our high standards, we strive to be a trusted resource to our clients.
We know from experience that a successful attorney-client relationship depends on our ability to understand your needs and objectives. For more information about parenting plans, separation agreements, and family law, contact our office today at 703.995.9900 in Northern Virginia or 757.296.0580 in Virginia Beach, or visit our website: www.MeloneLawPC.com.
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