How To Create A Custody Parenting Plan

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• Negotiating a divorce tends to be a difficult,
  emotionally demanding process, and the stress can
  be compounded when children are involved. Who
  will have legal custody of the kids? How will
  visitation schedules be arranged? These are
  important questions, and to help you answer them
  well take a closer look at custody parenting
  plans.

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• In Nevada, it is customary for child custody
  cases to be referred to the Family Mediation
  Center so the parties can come to an amicable
  agreement. The court gets involved with custody
  arrangements only when mediation fails.
• When overseeing the negotiations, the mediator is
  charged with the responsibility of considering
  the welfare of the child(ren) above all other
  factors.

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• What happens when you meet with the mediator to
  draw up a custody agreement? The process goes
  through these stages
• Identify child custody issues.
• Organize child custody issues.
• Discuss proposed solutions.
• Prepare the formal agreement.

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• There are a number of issues that the parties
  must agree on before a formal custody arrangement
  can be established. One of the most important of
  these is legal custody of the child(ren).
• Often, parents end up splitting legal custody,
  which means that each party has a say in
  child-rearing issues such as schooling.

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• Remember that physical custody is distinct from
  legal custody. Physical custody refers to the
  responsibility to provide housing to the
  child(ren). In short, a parent with physical
  custody lives with the kids.
• Its common for parents to share this
  responsibility as well, each party alternating
  physical custody duties according to a set
  schedule.
• Dont forget to decide who will have the kids
  during holidays and school breaks.

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• If one parent has physical custody of the
  child(ren), it will be necessary to make
  appropriate financial support arrangements. This
  includes medical co-pay and clothing expenses.
• Also, decide which parent will claim the
  child(ren) on tax forms as dependents.

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• Will the child(ren) attend public or private
  school? Will they be homeschooled? These are
  considerations that must be settled on during the
  mediation process.
• Also, it's important to determine which parent
  will attend school functions (such as PTA
  meetings) and receive report cards.

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• It's also essential to decide which parent will
  be involved with making medical decisions for the
  child(ren). In many cases, the responsible parent
  is the one with physical custody at any given
  time.
• Religious instruction sometimes becomes a
  controversial point, especially if each parent
  practices a different religion. Will the
  child(ren) be taught about one parents religion,
  or both?

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• Founded by Emily McFarling, Esq. in 2003, the
  McFarling Law Group is dedicated to providing its
  clients with highly effective representation in
  divorce, child custody, parental abduction, and
  related family law matters. The firm is located
  in Las Vegas, Nevada.