Child custody agreements can be complex and stressful, especially if you and your ex-partner have different parenting styles or if there is a lot of conflict between you. However, there are a number of things you can do to create a child custody agreement that is fair and workable for both of you, and that will help to minimize stress for your children.
1. Be clear and specific in your co-parenting agreement.
The more specific your child custody agreement is, the less room there is for interpretation and conflict. Be sure to include specific details about the following:
- Physical custody: When will each parent have physical custody of the children?
- Legal custody: Who will have the legal authority to make decisions about the children's education, healthcare, and other important matters?
- Visitation: How much visitation time will each parent have with the children?
- Holidays and vacations: How will holidays and vacations be divided between the parents?
- Decision-making: How will the parents decide about the children's education, healthcare, and other important matters?
- Communication: How will the child's parents communicate with each other about the children?
- Dispute resolution: How will the parents resolve any disputes that arise?
2. Communicate regularly with your co-parent.
Effective communication is key to a successful child custody agreement. It's critical to remember that written communication might be your most dependable ally while dealing with an uncooperative ex. Write down everything to keep a record of your interactions rather than participating in verbal battles. This strategy enables you to manage your feelings and focus on your children, who matter the most.
Be sure to communicate regularly with your co-parent about the children's needs and schedules. You can communicate via phone, email, text message, or a co-parenting app.
3. Be flexible and willing to compromise.
Things don't always go according to plan, so it's important to be flexible and willing to compromise with your co-parent. If one parent needs to change the custody schedule due to an unexpected event, for example, the other parent should be willing to accommodate the change if possible.
4. Put your children's needs first.
In all child custody decisions, it's important to put your children's needs first. This means setting aside your own personal differences and focusing on what is best for your children.
5. Avoid conflict in front of your children.
Children are very sensitive to conflict between their parents. It's important to avoid arguing or fighting in front of your children. If you have a disagreement with your co-parent, try to resolve it privately.
6. Seek professional family law help.
If you and your co-parent are struggling to communicate or agree on child custody issues, it may be helpful to seek professional help from a family law attorney. Family Law Attorneys at Johnson Law Group can help you and your co-parent communicate more effectively and reach mutually agreeable solutions. A child custody attorney can also help you and your co-parent develop healthy co-parenting strategies.
Additional tips for Coloradans:
- Be aware of Colorado's family laws on child custody and support. You can find this information on the website of the Colorado Judicial Branch, and if you need someone to explain it, the Attorneys at Johnson Law Group offer family law legal coaching sessions.
- Also, you may want to consider using a co-parenting smart app. There are a number of co-parenting apps available that can help communicate more effectively and track the custody schedule.
- Take advantage of resources available to co-parents in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Human Services offers a number of resources for co-parents, including parenting classes and mediation services.
Contact Johnson Law Group Child Custody Attorneys
Co-parenting can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. At Johnson Law Group, we understand that with separation, communication can be difficult. If you need an attorney to help ensure communication in your co-parenting agreement, we can help! Especially if you are worried about the other parent's communication commitment, we can make sure your parenting plan describes the communication needed to be in the know about your kids whereabouts. Johnson Law Group and JohnsonO'Keefe have helped countless individuals through the co-parenting and child custody process and can help you too. Contact us today at (720) 744-3513 for an initial complimentary family law consultation. Our team will be there with you every step of the way to take care of your specific legal needs so that you can focus on moving your family forward.
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