Whenever parents divorce, the court requires a parenting plan for all of the parties minor children. A parenting plan sets forth each parent’s rights and obligations in parenting matters, including a detailed residential schedule for where the children will reside and what contact they have with the other parent. A parenting plan also contains provisions to make major decisions for the children and a procedure to resolve parenting disputes. If there is domestic violence or drug or alcohol use, the parenting plan often contains restrictions and conditions to protect the children and requires therapy or treatment for the parents and/or the children

The court often approves or decides on a temporary parenting plan when the case is first filed and a final parenting plan in connection with the decree of dissolution that dissolves the marriage. When custody is contested, the court often appoints a guardian ad litem or parenting evaluator to conduct a parenting investigation and make a report and recommendations to the court. We are experienced in helping our clients understand and navigate the evaluation process.

It is important that you obtain the best possible parenting plan because once a parenting plan has been established, the plan can be modified only under certain limited circumstances.