Parenting Plan Lawyers Edmonton

When parents decide to separate or divorce, one of the most important and emotionally charged issues they face is figuring out how to share responsibilities over their children. A well-crafted parenting plan can provide a clear roadmap for co-parenting, ensuring that both parents maintain healthy relationships with their children while minimizing conflict.

At Verhaeghe Law, our experienced parenting plan lawyers in Edmonton are dedicated to helping families develop fair, workable, and child-focused parenting plans that prioritize the best interests of their children. If you’re interested in crafting a comprehensive parenting plan with your co-parent, schedule a consultation with our legal team today. You can call our parenting plan lawyers directly at (587) 410-2500 or contact us online.

What is a Parenting Plan?

A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents that outlines how they will share the responsibilities of raising their children following their separation or divorce. It typically addresses key issues like parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and how disputes will be resolved. By having a well-structured parenting plan, both parents can remain actively involved in their children’s lives while providing stability for everyone involved.

In Alberta, parenting plans can be formalized through a court order or remain as a private agreement between parents. While a court may intervene in cases where parents are unable to agree on a plan, many families prefer to negotiate a parenting plan outside of court.

Why You Need a Parenting Plan

A detailed parenting plan is incredibly important for the health of the co-parenting process. It can:

• Provide Clarity and Structure: Separation or divorce is often confusing for children. A parenting plan with a clear framework for how parenting time and responsibilities will be shared gives children a sense of stability. 
• Reduce Conflict: A primary benefit of a parenting plan is the ability to reduce conflict between parents. When each parent’s rights and responsibilities are clearly outlined, it can help prevent disagreements about parenting time, decision-making, and other important matters. This can also help foster a more peaceful environment for the children.
• Ensure Flexibility for Changing Needs: Children’s needs change over time, and a good parenting plan provides the flexibility to adjust to these changes as they arise. As children grow, their schedules, interests, and needs may shift. Your parenting plan can be modified to reflect these changes with legal assistance.

What to Consider When Making Your Parenting Plan

A comprehensive parenting plan covers a wide range of issues related to the care of your children. Some of the most important elements to think about include:

1. Parenting Time Schedule

The parenting time schedule, sometimes referred to as access or visitation, outlines how children’s time will be divided between parents. This can include their regular day-to-day schedules as well as arrangements for weekends, holidays, and special occasions. A clear and detailed parenting schedule helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures both parents have meaningful time with their children. 

You may want to consider things like: 

• Drop-off/pick-up logistics for when children transfer from one parent to another (i.e. time windows, days, location, person responsible). The daily routine of each parent should be practically considered to avoid being overly rigid
• Documenting rules on how to handle sudden changes to the schedule. This might include alterations due to illness, lateness, or unforeseen events
• Rules on communication when the child is with the other parent (i.e. phone, digital, pictures, etc.)
• Childcare and babysitting arrangements
• Managing your child’s social life (i.e. who chauffeurs to birthday parties/sleepovers and purchases gifts for the child to give, etc.)
• And more

2. Decision-Making Responsibilities

Your parenting plan should define how major decisions regarding your children’s education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and religious upbringing will be made. In many cases, parents may share decision-making responsibility. This is sometimes known as joint or shared parenting. In other situations, one parent will have sole decision-making authority over certain aspects of the children’s lives.

3. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

Even with a thorough parenting plan, disagreements can still crop up. A good plan will include a dispute resolution process that outlines how parents will handle conflicts or changes to the plan. Often, dispute resolution mechanisms in parenting plans involve mediation, negotiation, arbitration, or seeking guidance from a family law professional. Having this process in place will help prevent issues from escalating.

4. Relocation Provisions

If one parent needs to move, it can significantly impact the parenting plan they have in place. A comprehensive plan should include instructions for how relocation will be handled. These might outline how much notice must be given before the relocation occurs and how parenting time will be adjusted accordingly.

How Our Parenting Plan Lawyers in Edmonton Can Help You

At Verhaeghe Law, our team of parenting plan lawyers understand the challenges that families face during separation or divorce. We are passionate about helping parents create child-centered parenting plans that meet their family’s unique needs. Here’s how we can help you:

• Tailored Parenting Plans: Every family is different, and we believe that parenting plans should reflect this. Our lawyers work closely with clients to understand their specific circumstances and goals. Whether you are seeking joint decision-making responsibility, sole responsibility, or a flexible parenting arrangement, we can help you create a plan that encourages the well-being of your children.
• Mediation Support: We encourage parents to work together collaboratively whenever possible. Our lawyers can assist with your mediation and negotiation needs by helping you and your co-parent resolve disagreements. 
• Legal Representation in Court: While we strive to resolve parenting plan issues outside of court, we recognize that litigation may sometimes be necessary. If a fair agreement cannot be reached during the mediation process, our experienced family law lawyers will advocate for you and your children’s rights in court.
• Modifications to Existing Parenting Plans: As children grow and family dynamics change, parenting plans may need to be edited. Our lawyers can help you modify your existing parenting plan, ensuring that your new arrangement continues to meet the needs of both children and parents.

At our firm, our parenting plan lawyers have extensive experience in family law. We are committed to helping parents navigate the complexities of co-parenting with confidence and peace of mind.

Contact Our Experienced Edmonton Parenting Plan Lawyers Today

If you are dealing with a separation or divorce and need assistance creating a parenting plan, don’t hesitate to contact our legal team. When you work with Verhaeghe Law, you can connect with experienced parenting plan lawyers in Edmonton to help you achieve your goals. We are here to help you develop a plan that protects your rights as a parent and promotes the best life possible for your children.

Contact us online or call our Edmonton office directly at (587) 410-2500 today. Let us guide you through the legal process with care and compassion.