When parents split up, including when married parents get divorced or unmarried parents choose to separate, they will need to determine how they will share custody of their children. Custody involves a variety of complex issues, and it is likely that parents will disagree about the best ways to handle these matters. However, going to court to fight these matters out is usually not beneficial for anybody, since it will be very expensive and time-consuming, while also placing stress on both the children and the parents. As an alternative, parents can use mediation to settle these issues and reach agreements on what would be best for their children.
Benefits of Mediation in Child Custody Cases
Mediation can be a good solution for addressing multiple types of cases involving child custody. In addition to creating a parenting plan during the divorce process or determining how to share custody of children as unmarried parents, parents can also use mediation in situations where it will be necessary to modify existing child custody orders.
During the mediation process, parents can work together and find ways they can cooperate to meet their children’s needs. Rather than taking an adversarial approach to these issues, they can determine how they will be able to work together and ensure that they will both be able to provide for their children’s best interests. This will help them establish a new relationship as co-parents, encouraging them to maintain communication with each other about issues related to their children, while also being flexible and helping each other out whenever possible.
The decisions made during mediation will be completely up to the parents. Since both parents will need to agree on all of the issues related to the custody of their children, this will encourage them to find solutions that will allow them both to play an active role in their children’s lives going forward. By reaching agreements on these matters, parents will be much more likely to abide by their child custody orders, since they will have been the ones to make decisions rather than having a judge impose requirements on them.
Ultimately, mediation allows parents to craft agreements that provide for their family’s unique needs. Parents will be able to determine how they will work together to make decisions about important issues related to their children’s lives, including matters involving education, medical care, and extracurricular activities. They can also create a workable schedule for when children will stay with each parent, while also putting rules in place related to issues such as communication between parents and children, transportation of children between parents’ homes, and how to handle situations where a parent will not be available to provide care as scheduled.
Contact Our Plano Child Custody Mediation Attorney
When addressing matters related to the custody of your children, the Law Office of Brian Bagley can advise you of your options, including helping you determine whether mediation will be a good way to reach agreements with the other parent. We will provide you with representation during your case and make sure you take the right steps to protect your parental rights. Contact our Lucas child custody lawyer at (972) 843-7158 to arrange a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.verywellfamily.com/overview-of-child-custody-mediation-2997655
https://parentingafterdivorce.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tips-to-Prepare-for-Child-Custody-Mediation.pdf