When parents divorce, they typically create a parenting plan outlining their respective roles and responsibilities for their children. Such an arrangement helps ensure that both parents participate in their children’s lives and alleviate the stress of juggling parenting duties while separated or divorced. A successful parenting plan encompasses visitation schedules and custody arrangements and addresses how parents will handle making decisions for their children.
Following a divorce, families experience different stages and transformations as the years go by. These changes may indicate that it’s necessary to revise their parenting plan to reflect their current situation and adjust to new arrangements.
What changes typically require a modification?
Some signs that your parenting plan needs revising include the following:
- A parent plans to move out of state.
- There’s been a shift in a parent’s capacity to provide care for the child.
- The child’s needs have changed due to their age or health issues.
- One of the parents has developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
- One of the parents is getting remarried.
Before modifications may be made to a parenting plan in California, the petitioning parent must demonstrate that there has been a significant change in circumstances that is directly relevant to the child’s best interests. Structure and consistency are important in parenting plans, but so is the flexibility to adjust to new circumstances.
The actions and behaviors of the family must be in accordance with the plan. One parent’s non-compliance can also necessitate alterations to a parenting plan. They may frequently ask to change their visitation times, or they may decide to skip a visit without adequate notice. In such instances, the other parent should keep written records of these violations to present to the court.
When you are ready to review your parenting plan and make changes as needed, seek legal assistance.
