Divorcing your spouse doesn’t necessarily mean that this person is going to be out of your life for good. If you have a child with this individual, Kentucky law will typically require you to work with this person to raise that young person to adulthood. The terms that govern your relationship with your child’s other parent will usually be codified through the creation of a written parenting plan.
What should be included in such a plan?
At a minimum, the plan should determine how parenting time with your child will be allocated. For instance, it could stipulate that you have your son or daughter during the week while your former spouse has the child on weekends. It could also stipulate that you have the child every weekend during the school year and for two weeks during summer breaks. In addition, this document should specify how decisions will be made that impact your son or daughter’s physical and mental health.
What happens if the terms of the plan need to be changed?
As your child grows older, it’s likely that the terms of a parenting plan will need to be changed. For example, it may be necessary to account for the fact that your teen might have to work on a night that he or she is supposed to be with you. It may also be necessary to account for the fact that your child might express a preference to live with your former spouse on a full-time basis.
The parenting plan should spell out the protocols for making changes to the document as necessary. In some cases, it may be necessary to resolve any disputes that might arise in a family law court.
Generally speaking, you’ll play an important role in your child’s life after a divorce or separation. Therefore, it’s important to work with your child’s other parent to create a framework for raising your son or daughter in a healthy and effective manner.
