Parallel parenting is a child custody term referring to a system of co-parenting following a divorce where the former spouses in question can’t stand the sight of each other. If the common denominator in all your in-person interactions with your ex is confrontation, this might be an option you’ll want to try.
Like all good parents, your children’s best interests are a top priority in your divorce. Data shows that kids can adapt to a new lifestyle without excessive stress if their parents demonstrate an ability to work together as a team for their sake. On the contrary, children who constantly exposed to parental conflict typically experience high levels of stress following a divorce.
To avoid conflict, you can implement a parallel parenting strategy. This is a child custody option where there is limited communication and interaction between parents. For example, if you and your ex fight every time you see each other, you can agree (in your written parallel parenting plan) not to attend the same functions at the same time, such as a child’s school event or a holiday gathering. You can also limit communication to text messaging or email only. This helps avoid verbal arguments over the phone or during virtual chats.
Try to treat your written exchanges with your ex as you would any type of business-related correspondence. Avoid personal information, except that which is relevant to child custody. Keep messages short and to the point. Agree to use respectful language only. If you will be dropping your kids off and picking them up for custody exchanges, you do not have to see your ex in person. For example, you can use your children’s school as a custody exchange point.
Whichever parent is taking custody will show up at the appropriate time to pick up the kids. School officials can supervise the exchange. Other parents have used police stations in a similar way. You can also ask a trusted friend or family member to make custody exchanges on your behalf if options that don’t involve in-person interactions are not available. Parallel parenting can help you avoid conflict and enable kids to move on in life after your divorce without a lot of stress.
]]>Sometimes circumstances may change when both parents realize that the custody schedule is not working out. When both parents agree, the court may be more likely to make the changes official. If you or your ex plan on moving a significant distance away from where you currently reside, the custody schedule will likely need to be updated. A move may require a change in who acts as custodial parent along with details on how visitation will work with the non-custodial parent.
Sometimes, children may decide that they wish to make changes to their schedule by spending more time with one parent or the other. If your child is of the appropriate age, the court may agree to make the changes they ask for. If a child goes through a significant change like an illness, injury or other unexpected event, you may need to alter the custody schedule to benefit the child’s needs.
If you have legitimate concerns about the well-being of your child while they’re spending time with the other parent, the court will take these concerns seriously and hear your case. Report suspicions of abuse or neglect promptly so the court can investigate those accusations. If your ex is abusing drugs or alcohol, you may request for your child to not have unsupervised visits until recovery or rehabilitation is complete.
Parental alienation, where one parent tries to harm a child’s relationship with the other parent, may cause the court to adjust the custody schedule. When a parent doesn’t follow the custody schedule and fails to pick up or drop off the child as directed, the court may order changes in the schedule. Any significant change in a parent’s life that affects the child may be cause for an adjustment.
Minnesota parents often find custody negotiations to be stressful, which can lead to arguments and the inability to agree without outside intervention. Whether you’re newly separated or divorced, or you need to request a change to a standing custody order, seeking legal advice is important. Having someone knowledgeable on your side can help you understand how to make the best decisions for your child.
]]>Whether you believe you will be eligible to receive these payments, or you think that you may have to pay child support, it is important that you understand how it works, how much you will pay and more. This understanding can reduce conflict and allow you and the other parent to work together more cooperatively after divorce.
Every family is different, and each child support determination is based on the factors that are specific to the individual situation. For example, if you have to pay, the specific amount you may have to pay could be based on your income and the needs of your children. However, federal law states that no parent will have to pay more than 60% of his or her income in child support. Parents may be able to reach an agreement on child support, but they will still need to present it to the court for approval.
The intention of child support is to assist with the expenses most often associated with children, such as food, clothing, housing and childcare. In most cases, child support will continue until the child reaches the age of 18, but parents may continue to support his or her child beyond that age. If at any point you are unable to meet the terms of your child support order, you may seek a modification of the original order.
During your divorce, you will benefit from making decisions that allow you to protect the best interests of your children above else. If you have concerns about child support or what steps you can take to ensure that your Minnesota child support order is fair and sustainable, you may benefit from seeking professional guidance.
]]>This is a matter that is easy to overlook as you are thinking about where you will live, what will happen to your property and how much time you will get to spend with your kids. However, it is prudent to give thought to the marital debt you may have accumulated over the course of your marriage. You do not want to walk away with an unreasonable or unfair portion of this financial obligation.
If you and your spouse both accumulated debt over the course of your marriage, then you are both responsible for paying for it, even if there is a discrepancy in your two incomes. What will happen to this debt depends on factors such as whether you had a prenup, state laws and which spouse’s name is on your credit cards. Credit card debt is one of the most common types of debt, and couples tend to have double the average balance than a single individual.
Minnesota couples often have mortgage debt, as well as auto loans for which they may be jointly responsible. Any student loans brought into the marriage by one spouse are separate debt, unless both spouses’ names are on the loan. Once you make the decision to divorce, it is wise to stop using joint cards and to immediately stop the accumulation of marital debt.
The key word in the division of marital debt should be equitable, not equal. A fair division of your joint outstanding balances is not necessarily 50-50, but rather, it should be based on factors such as financial contributions of each spouse, why the debt accumulated in the first place and more. You have the right to pursue terms in your order that will allow you to face your financial future after divorce with confidence and security.
]]>Visitation is the amount of time that the non-custodial parent will have with his or her children. There are different types of visitation, and if you are the non-custodial parent, knowing your visitation rights is critical. You have the right to seek a specific outcome to your custody and visitation concerns, and you have the right to fight for the best interests of your children.
When courts are making decisions pertaining to custody and visitation, the standard for those decisions will be in the best interests of the children. While the court may decide that one parent should retain primary custody of the kids, you still have the right to maintain an active role in their lives. There are many different factors that the courts will take into consideration, including the following:
There are different types of visitation that could impact how and when you see your children. The types of visitation include unsupervised visitation, supervised visitation and virtual visitation. In some cases, the court may allow the parents to decide how visitation will work.
The choices made during your divorce will impact your family for years to come. It is in your interests to understand your parental rights and to make choices that will allow you to provide your kids with stability and security long-term. Before you move forward, you may benefit from seeking guidance regarding your parental rights and how you can seek a beneficial outcome.
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