If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage, the concerns of raising your children in a post-divorce world will be top of mind.
During mediation, the two of you can work together to create an effective parenting plan that focuses on the best interests of your children.
The view of the courts
In the state of California, the courts prefer to see parents work together to resolve disagreements about child custody issues. They encourage the development of a parenting plan that puts the children’s best interests front and center. If the parents opt for divorce mediation, they can utilize the guidance of a licensed mediator to help them write the plan. With the approval of a judge, it can then become a custody and visitation order.
The goals of mediation
In addition to the focus on the best interests of the children, the objectives of mediation are to help you create a schedule that allows your children to spend ample time with you and the other parent. It should also show with whom they will spend holiday and vacation time. Other important points include how you and the other parent will communicate about the children in general and how you will deal with disputes and resolve disagreements.
The benefits of a parenting plan
Child custody is an intense, emotional issue. Your parenting plan will provide detailed guidelines for raising your children following the divorce. You can rely on a mediator to assist you in creating a cohesive plan that will help form the foundation of the new family structure.