Objectives of Permanent Parenting In a Child Custody Agreement

When a couple in Spokane shares a child and is no longer together, it’s easy for them to lose sight of what’s important. Often, if a relationship between the parents failed as a marriage or the couple was not married and had a child, there is unresolved vitriol that can poison the relationship with children. The state tries to ensure that the best interests of the child are met through fulfilling the objectives of a permanent parenting plan.

These objectives are making certain that the parents: provide physical care for the child; keep the child emotionally stable and healthy; provide the child with what he or she needs during adolescence and while growing up; establishes the authority and responsibilities of the parents; doesn’t let the child get in the middle of any conflicts between the parents; encourage the parents to adhere to the responsibilities they agreed to in the plan and act in the child’s best interests.

In the parenting plan, there will be provisions for various aspects such as parenting time and to maintain the relationship with the child. When there is a disagreement, the process to resolve it will be mediation, counseling or arbitration. The plan will follow the decision-making authority of the parents including education, health care and the religion that will be followed with each parent. The parents will make a good faith attempt to resolve agreements according to the plan and follow the mediation process.

A parenting plan is a sound idea for parents to try and be organized and avoid rancorous disagreements when it comes to child custody. There can be legal hurdles and each side might have their own feelings on how the case should go. When deciding on child custody, it’s preferable to have an idea as to how the best case scenario will go and speak to a legal professional to make it come to fruition.

Source: apps.leg.wa.gov, “Permanent parenting plan,” accessed on Jan. 27, 2015