Key Elements for Successful Co-Parenting
Co-parenting after a separation or divorce is not always easy. A well-drafted parenting plan can make a major difference. In Georgia, parents who share custody are generally required to have a parenting plan that addresses decision-making, parenting time, transportation, holidays, communication, and other practical issues. The more specific and well-tailored the plan, the easier it is for both parents to understand their rights and responsibilities. In this blog, a Georgia parenting plan attorney provides a more detailed overview of the elements for truly successful co-parenting.
What is a Parenting Plan?
Broadly explained, a parenting plan is a written custody document that explains how separated or divorced parents will share responsibility for raising their child. In practical terms, it should answer many of the key questions that tend to create conflict during co-parenting, such as:
- Where will the child live?
- When will each parent have parenting time?
- How will holidays and school breaks be divided?
- Who will handle transportation?
- How will parents communicate about the child?
- What is the right way to handle a dispute over shared parenting?
A parenting plan in Georgia is by no means a "one-size-fits-all" document. Quite the contrary, it should be customized to meet the needs of the parents and child. Further, a strong parenting plan must be clear, specific, and realistic. It gives both parents a roadmap for successful co-parenting.
Know the Law for Parenting Plans in Georgia
Under Georgia law, a parenting plan is required in permanent custody and custody modification actions, and the court may also require one for temporary hearings. The final order in a custody case must incorporate a permanent parenting plan (O.C.G.A. § 19-9-1). The plan must also reflect the child's best interests, including the policy that a close and continuing parent-child relationship and continuity in the child's life are generally important considerations. Georgia courts can approve an agreed plan or impose a plan after a contested hearing.
An Overview of the Key Elements of a Successful Parenting Plan
Legal Custody (Decision-Making Authority)
Parental decision-making authority should be clear. A successful parenting plan in Georgia should clearly define legal custody. Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions for the child, including decisions involving education, health care, extracurricular activities, and religious upbringing. Parents may share joint legal custody, but the plan should still identify how disagreements will be resolved. Indeed, that is relatively common. Still, in some custody cases, one parent may be given final decision-making authority in one or more categories after good-faith consultation with the other parent.
Physical Custody (Parenting-Time Schedule)
The parenting plan should also address physical custody, meaning where the child will live and when the child will be with each parent. Georgia law does not create a presumption in favor of either parent or any specific custody arrangement. Instead, custody must be based on the child's best interests (O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3). A strong plan should set out the regular weekly schedule in specific terms, including weekdays, weekends, pickup times, drop-off times, and exchange locations. It should also account for the child's age, school schedule, extracurricular commitments, and need for stability. The goal is to reduce uncertainty, not create new disputes.
Holidays, School Breaks, and Special Occasions
A parenting plan should not stop at the ordinary week-to-week schedule. Holidays, school breaks, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, long weekends, summer vacation, and other special occasions should be addressed separately. These provisions are often where conflict arises if the plan is too general. For example, the plan should explain when a holiday period begins and ends, whether holidays override the regular schedule, and how parents will handle overlapping events.
Transportation and Exchanges
A Georgia parenting plan should explain how the child will move between households. That includes who is responsible for transportation, where exchanges will occur, what time exchanges will take place, and what happens if a parent is late. In some cases, exchanges can occur at school or daycare to reduce direct contact between the parents. In higher-conflict cases, the plan may need more precise terms, including neutral exchange locations, limits on who may attend exchanges, and requirements that both parents remain civil.
Parental Communication
Successful co-parenting requires effective, open communication. A successful parenting plan should also establish how parents will communicate about the child. Georgia parenting plans often work best when they identify a primary communication method, such as text, email, or a co-parenting app. The plan can also address how quickly parents must respond to non-emergency messages, how emergencies should be handled, and what information must be shared about school, health care, travel, activities, and schedule changes.
Dispute Resolution (Modifications, Enforcement, etc.)
Even a well-written parenting plan cannot predict every future issue. That is why a successful plan should include a process for handling disputes. Parents may agree to attempt mediation before filing certain motions, use a parenting coordinator if appropriate, or follow a written notice-and-response process for schedule changes. If you have any questions about a dispute over a parenting plan, an experienced Georgia custody lawyer can help.
Why Parents Trust the Georgia Child Custody Lawyers at Meriwether & Tharp
Parenting plans are complicated. At their best, they can make co-parenting more effective. However, negotiating a fair, comprehensive parenting plan can be hard. At Meriwether & Tharp, LLC, we are a Georgia family law firm that has deep experience working with parents. No matter the situation that you are navigating, we are here to help you determine the best path forward. Your initial consultation with our Georgia child custody lawyer is strictly confidential and without obligations.
Contact a Georgia Parenting Plan Attorney Today
At Meriwether & Tharp, LLC, our Georgia child custody lawyers are well-versed in parenting plans. If you have any questions about your rights or your options, we are here as a family law resource. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a strictly confidential consultation. We help parents with parenting plans and co-parenting legal issues throughout the region.