Florida parents who are going through a divorce might need to make a parenting schedule. This schedule deals with when the child is with each parent. If exes cannot agree on an arrangement, they may have to go to court. However, some parents will find that a judge’s schedule leaves them with even less child time than they were originally offered in negotiations.
Courts generally base custody decisions on the child’s best interests, and parents should do so as well. A custody schedule should help ensure that the kid is able to maintain a healthy relationship with both parents. This means that one ex should not try to use it as a tool to get back at the other. Parents also must recognize that while they may have different parenting styles, both approaches may be equally valid.
A schedule may inconvenience parents, but it should inconvenience the child as little as possible. Any extracurricular activities should be taken into account. It will be easier for parents if they live near each other as well as close to the child’s school. If the child can continue with the same childcare provider, this can minimize some of the disruptions of the divorce. Older children might want to participate in creating the parenting schedule.
Child custody negotiations can be challenging. Parents may struggle with emotions ranging from anger at one another to sorrow at having less time with their children. Furthermore, while negotiating an agreement might usually be the best approach, this is not always possible. One parent may simply refuse to cooperate. In such a case, a lawyer could provide helpful guidance.