During divorces there are many different ways that couples in Washington need to separate their lives. They will physically separate their residences and each begin living in different homes. People will also need to separate their possessions. This includes bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles properties and other possessions. They will also need to split the time they spend with their children and also divide how they will make decisions for the children moving forward.
How much time parents spend with their children after a divorce is determined by parenting plans. These plans state the schedules for which days the children will be with each parent as well as holiday schedules and other miscellaneous days. The plans also state how the parents will make decisions regarding the children and how they will resolve disputes regarding decisions for the children in the future.
How courts determine parenting plans
These parenting plans are very important for both the children and the parents. When making these plans, the guiding principle is what is in the best interests of the children not necessarily the parents.
To determine what is in the best interests of the children, there are a number of factors that the court will analyze. These factors include, but are not limited to, each parent’s ability to maintain a stable, loving relationship with the children; their ability to provide for their needs; care for the children’s educational needs; the parent’s judgment; their ability to provide for them financially and other relevant factors.
Many parents go through divorces each year in Washington. These can be very emotional times for parents as they separate their lives. One of the most difficult parts of doing this is separating their time with their children. Parents will need to make determinations which are in the children’s best interests. These are very fact-specific determinations though and the outcomes depend on the unique circumstances of the family. Experienced attorneys understand the factors used to determine parenting plans and may be able to guide one through the process.