Common Misconceptions About Co-Parenting

When you are coming up with a co-parenting agreement, you might assume that the agreement will be between you and the other parent. However, in some cases, your children might also have a say in the co-parenting agreement depending on how old they are. 

The Role of the Child's Opinion in Parenting Decisions

The opinion of the child is more likely to be heard when the child is a teenager. However, this can also depend on the judge and the perceived maturity of the child. If the child can show that they fully understand the situation, their opinion might be taken more into account.

While the primary goal of the judge is to consider what is in the best interest of the child, they will also take into account the division of parental responsibilities. For example, if the desires of the child would place an excessive burden on one of the parents, the judge might deny the request.

If you are concerned about a request that was made by your child, you will want to discuss this with a divorce attorney. You may need to make a strong case to the court as to why your child's request should not be granted.

You Do Not Have To Agree on Everything

Oftentimes, parents do not agree on everything with regards to a co-parenting agreement. What matters the most is that you are working together and putting your children first. You will also need to make sure that you are equally sharing your duties. 

If you have a dispute that you cannot resolve, this is a problem you should bring up with your divorce attorney. You may need to resolve the disagreement using a third-party arbitration service or some other legal solution.

You Do Not Have To Communicate Constantly With Your Ex

You might be concerned about the co-parenting agreement because you might not want to communicate with your ex. However, you can keep communication to a minimum. For example, there are some couples who only communicate through text and keep their communications brief. You may be able to schedule a formal meeting with the other parent.

However, depending on how little you communicate with your ex, your parenting plan might not be considered co-parenting but actually parallel parenting. This is often the case when one of the parents is very combative and causes the other partner serious emotional distress. If you aren't sure what to do next, the best option is to turn to a divorce attorney.