Is a 50/50 Parenting Plan Right for you?

While courts in some jurisdictions are leaning more and more towards the 50/50 schedule, establishing a parenting plan can still be confusing and complicated. We have some expert tips to help you decide if a 50/50 shared custody plan is right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you get started drafting your plan.

  • Do you live close to your ex? With frequent transitions a 50/50 plan can be difficult long distance. There are still ways to make it happen, but the more travel, the more time you child will have to spend going to and fro. Be sure that your child is emotionally and logistically able to cope with these transitions.
  • Can you communicate well with your ex? If you are engaged in constant battles with your ex every transition provides an opportunity for argument. Both parents need to recognize what is best for their child and how to implement a plan to help their child flourish.
  • Are parents are committed? To succeed in a 50/50 plan both parents need to agree to the plan, and both parents need to commit to helping it work. This often requires putting the children’s needs above the parent’s feelings of loss, regret, anger and hostility.

A 50/50 plan isn’t right for everyone. Where there is a high level of conflict, a shared plan may actually hurt the children more by exposing them to damaging arguments and the potential for parental alienation. It is important to remember that the best plan is one that helps you have the best relationship with your child, even if that does not necessary mean more time.

We understand that divorce can be a harrowing experience emotionally, physically and logistically, which is why we have lawyers here to help. Having an experienced divorce lawyer can make all the difference to your process. Because we focus solely on family law, we understand the dynamics and can help guide you through your divorce. Please contact Elise Buie Family Law Group, PLLC for a consultation regarding your divorce. For more information about collaborative divorce or mediation please visit our website. 

STAY UP TO DATE

Subscribe to our newsletters

 
Subscribe to one or more of our newsletters, delivering meaningful insight on topics that matter to you and your family.

FURTHER READING

Latest Blog Posts

As a Seattle entrepreneur, you’ve undoubtedly dedicated countless hours and resources to building a successful business. You’ve dotted all of your I’s and crossed all of your T’s. But have you considered what will happen to your business after you're…

In today’s world of fast-paced decision-making and on-demand solutions, such as DIY divorces, it is not surprising that many couples contemplate divorce the moment they find themselves unhappily married. Our culture’s fickle mentality often seems to advocate for the idea…

In the wake of divorce or separation, co-parenting can feel stressful. Not only have you just gone through an emotional experience, but you are also now trying to figure out how both you and your co-parent can spend time with…

Far too many families end up fighting, or at least experiencing tension, over a family inheritance, but it does not have to be that way. Having counseled families for years, we offer the following advice to help your family avoid fighting over your property — while you are here and after you die.

If you are getting divorced, you may be worried about what it will do to your finances. Maybe your finances are heavily intertwined with your spouse’s, or you are worried about what your future will look like, given these changes.…

Establishing paternity and parentage is important for many families and parents. Regardless of why you want to establish paternity and parentage, the process has the potential to be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the terms and rules for…

After divorce, you may find yourself living on one less stream of income than you did when you were married and want to find a way to make up for it. Or even if you didn’t lose any income by…

If you are in the process of getting remarried, a prenuptial agreement may be the last thing on your mind. It should be at the forefront of it, however, as it can be beneficial for you, your spouse, and, if…

As a mom of four (now adult) kids, I remember well the flood of emotions that came each time they went to my ex’s, especially during the early days of my separation and eventually after my divorce. Not only was…

The holidays can look much different during a divorce than they did only a year earlier, and the changes can take some getting used to. The challenge is that you have to start somewhere, and in these “newer” moments, it…