4 Common Misconceptions About Co-Parenting After Divorce
Even if you are relieved to get out of an unhappy marriage, it is heartbreaking to think that you will only get to live with your children part of the time, and you will not be there for every day of their childhood. The good news is that your divorce lawyer has helped many families set up a co-parenting arrangement that enables both parents to have a strong relationship with the children. The law recognizes that children have the right to spend time with both parents, even when the parents do not live together and that both parents have the right to make decisions regarding their children’s upbringing. Despite this, agreeing on a parenting plan with your ex-spouse is one of the hardest parts of divorce. A Boca Raton child custody lawyer can help you draft a parenting plan that facilitates a strong relationship between you and your children.
MYTH: Divorced Dads Only Get to See the Kids Every Other Weekend
FACT: You and your spouse can structure your parenting plan however you choose. Some couples rotate custody on a 2-2-3-2-2-3 basis, and some parenting plans even divide hours of the day instead of days of the year. Once children enter school, it is usually more practical for the children to spend every school night with the same parent.
MYTH: Mom Gets Custody of Little Kids and Teen Girls, and Dad Gets Custody of Teen Boys
FACT: Both parents get custody of the children, and most of the time it is the parents, not the court, who decide which parent is with the children on which days. When the courts make findings about the children’s best interests, they base their decisions on any of 22 factors, none of which are the sex of the parent or the child. Some divorced dads have more than 200 days of parenting time per year with their daughters.
MYTH: You Have to Prove That Your Ex Is an Unfit Parent to Get More Parenting Time
FACT: You can petition the court to modify your parenting plan any time there has been a change in circumstances. Many couples who divorced when their children were babies modify their parenting plans when the children enter school. You can also modify your parenting plan because of a change in your work location or hours or because you are moving closer to or farther away from your ex-spouse.
MYTH: More Parenting Time Always Means Less Child Support
FACT: The court calculates child support based on how many days of parenting time each parent has, as well as on each parent’s income and expenses. If you have a much higher income than your ex-spouse, the court may order you to pay child support even if you have more days of parenting time per year than your ex.
Contact Schwartz | White About Getting Started on Your Parenting Plan
A South Florida family law attorney can help you finalize your parenting plan so that you can have a stable relationship with your children after divorce. Contact Schwartz | White in Boca Raton, Florida about your case.
Source:
jud12.flcourts.org/About/Divisions/Family/Pro-Se-Forms-Instructions/Parenting-Plans
