Your parenting plan creates the schedule for how you and the other parent will share time with your child. Your plan may be very specific and list definite days and times, or it may be less definite and provide for time such as “every other weekend” without listing actual transfer times. Some agreements also say “other parenting time as agreed upon.” Working out a schedule can be challenging if your order is not completely clear but this can also offer you a lot of flexibility.
If your parenting plan is not completely specific, the first thing you should do is talk to your attorney so that you can fully understand what the court has ordered and what that means for you. If you order does not list specific transfer times, you and you ex can work these out or you can ask your attorneys to help you create a more specific schedule. If you and your ex are creating these together, it is a good idea to do so in writing, so there can be no confusion.
When an order provides for parenting time at other times as agreed upon, it means that you and your ex are free to negotiate other times as long as you can agree. Agreement is the key here – if you cannot agree, additional times cannot happen and where an experienced attorney comes in handy.
Parents sometimes wonder if a parent attending a child’s sporting event, recital, or other extracurricular event is permitted if a parenting plan does not specify this. Unless a parent has supervised visitation, this kind of contact is encouraged by the courts. Children need both parents to be involved and participate. Even if your order does not directly include these events, you should assume that both parents can and should attend if possible.
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