Your child deserves a well-thought-out parenting plan to address their current and future needs, which may extend through adulthood. The plan addresses your child’s residential schedule (time spent with each parent), who will make major decisions, and how disputes will be resolved. Our family law attorneys will work with you to make sure the plan presented is comprehensive and meaningful.
Co-parents can negotiate the terms of a parenting plan without going through mediation or the court system. Still, it is always recommended you have an experienced family law attorney review your documents before finalizing them. Our attorneys understand where conflict may arise and can help to prevent problems before they appear.
When creating a parenting plan, Washington State courts take the following seven factors into consideration:
You will want to consider many circumstances: living arrangements, vacations, school, summer break arrangements, summer camp, learning to drive, piercings, tattoos, extracurricular activities, military service before the age of 18, and virtually any other major decision that may come up between now and adulthood. As different as each family is, as diverse as every family’s traditions are, each parenting plan is equally unique.
Modifications can be costly, particularly if they require going to court. We can work with you to help you understand your best course of action. A skilled attorney from our firm can help mitigate conflict while advising you of your rights and any potential risks associated with filing a modification.
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.
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…
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…
In Washington state, if you are involved in a custody dispute, which involves difficult questions related to specific needs for your children or serious parenting deficits (such as mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence), an evaluation service may be…
Divorce can be an emotionally grueling process, especially when you have children. In addition to coming to terms with how your own day-to-day is going to evolve, your children, too, will have to get used to seeing their lives change,…
For parents, divorce often raises many questions surrounding extracurricular activities. These questions usually include whether the children will get to participate in the extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts classes, music lessons, art classes, etc.) they did before the divorce, expanded…
Becoming a single parent, especially after being married and having a partner to share in the physical and emotional labor, can be a challenging transition. The role of single parent, even for those in a healthy co-parenting relationship with their…
The expression “in sickness and in health” is common in wedding ceremonies of all faiths. So when most people recite these words, it is probably safe to assume that they envision themselves married at a time when the unthinkable may…
Until 1987, Washington, like most states, awarded “custody” of the children to one of the parents at the conclusion of a divorce or separation case. This changed with the passage of the Parenting Act. Today, instead of ordering child custody,…
As a co-parent during or following divorce, you may no longer have the authority to make certain unilateral decisions regarding your children’s health and well-being. The restrictions on making decisions unilaterally are most commonly related to matters that are considered…
Raising teenagers can be difficult under any circumstances, but add divorce to what can already be a difficult time in child's life and many parents feel find themselves grasping. We have gathered some of the most important things you can do as a parent to help your teenager man...
A Canadian judge recently said yes. According to this article from Insider, a judge ruled an unvaccinated father would not be permitted to see his three children in person because one of the children is immunocompromised. The couple divorced in…
Effective co-parenting during and after divorce is the ultimate act of love you can show for your children. The unfortunate reality for many divorced parents, and even more regrettable for their children, is that divorced parents don’t often fully commit…