Custody Agreements – Details and Descriptions

Custody Agreements – Details and Descriptions

In any divorce that affects minor children, a custody agreement is an essential part of the legal documentation in order to spell out how the children will be cared for by their parents going forward. These agreements –called parenting plans – are designed to answer key questions such as who has legal custody of the children, what is the visitation schedule and how costs for medical care, child care and schooling will be divided among the parents.

“Parenting plans are a vital part of any divorce that involves minor children, so that all parties know exactly what is allowed, prohibited, expected of them after the divorce is finalized,” said Norman Green, Senior Partner at Green & Metcalf of Vero Beach, FL.

In an ideal divorce proceeding, a parenting plan would be amicably agreed upon by both parents or with the help of a mediator or experienced family law attorney. The plan would then be presented to the judge for review and approval, after any modifications are made. Once it receives the court’s approval, the parenting plan becomes the guiding document for how parents will manage their responsibility for the minor children it affects.

“Once the parenting plan is approved, any additional requests for changes need to be submitted to the court for review. Parents requesting changes to their existing parenting plans should consult with their attorney to learn more about the procedure for submitting their request to the court,” Green said.

Norman A. Green is the founder and a partner of Green & Metcalf - Attorneys At Law. He has over 40 years of experience in the practice fields of criminal defense and family law (divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, modifications of existing orders, prenuptial agreements and alimony cases).