People get married with the hope that they will stay together forever. When the relationship unravels and you discover that it might be in your best interests to part ways, a lot of challenges arise. The complications become more challenging when there are children involved, and when you and your partner cannot agree on how to split the property acquired together during the marriage. If you are stuck in a situation where you need parenting orders, here are a few guidelines that will simplify your work.
Determine the Issues You Want the Order to Address
Divorce can be murky. It gets worse when the parties involved try to use everything about the marriage as a punishment tool during divorce. Some of the issues that a parenting order addresses include who the child will live with, how much time the child will spend with you and the other parent, the communication channels the child will follow and other aspects of the child's welfare. In an ideal situation, you and your former spouse should agree on the terms which are in the best interests of the child. If this is not possible, your alternative is to consult a lawyer to help you get them enforced by the court.
Get Legal Help on Pre-filing Process
Before you file for parenting orders, it is advisable to get the relevant education about the process. Different states offer family dispute resolution conferences which you can attend and learn about the measures you can take to simplify your process. If the conference does not help, your next option is to engage a family lawyer. They will get the pre-filing orders and help you to go over each option and its implications. With the help of a lawyer, you will file the orders a judge can grant, and which are in the best interest of your kids.
The Consent Orders
It is possible that on hearing your idea, your spouse will agree with your suggestion on parenting. Similarly, you might be okay with what your partner proposes about co-parenting after the separation. Here, you just need to sign a consent form. Before following the application for the consent process, you should seek legal advice.
Separation is never easy. Sadly, when it is handled carelessly, it is the children who hurt the most. To avoid this, hire a lawyer as early as possible in the divorce proceedings. They will know which pursuable actions are in the best interests of the children.
For more information, reach out to a family law service.
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