Child Custody Arrangements

What is a child custody arrangement?

The time kids spend at either partners house after separation is an issue which is of great conflict in most cases.

A child custody arrangement is an agreement between parents which result in each parent spending an agreed amount of time with the kids on a regular basis.

There is no requirements to have legal documents about child custody arrangements, however, in our experience the arrangement should be set out in a written parenting plan. The other option is to obtain an order from the court.

How should you reach a child custody arrangement?

In our experience, different parties have their own unique way of finding the most suitable parenting plan.

It is important to keep in mind that children at different ages will benefit from different parenting regimes. The needs of the children should be of utmost importance and the parents should work around them.

You should also remember that parenting plans can change as the child grows older. For example, a parenting plan for a six month old baby will change once that baby reaches 10 years of age.

Are your children very young?

Young children under 24 – 36 months will benefit from arrangements that have them spending most of their time with the primary caregiver. This can include the mother or the father. In these instances, it may be beneficial to have a series of short-term parenting plans or parenting agreements, rather than trying to predict the parenting arrangements for your children in advance of their teenage years.

Do you have children with unique needs?

Unique health needs have to be taken into account in preparing a parenting plan. If one of the parents has not been used to dealing with those unique needs, it will be useful to consider sharing information between each other to cater for the special needs of your children. You should also take into account medical advice when preparing your parenting plans.