PARENTING PLAN
Rhode Island Parenting Plan
What You Should Include in Your Rhode Island Parenting Plan
It’s 4 pm on Christmas Eve and you’re ready to begin the drive to your parents’ home for family dinner but where is your child? With the other parent and now you’re waiting … and waiting … and late.
The benefit of a detailed parenting plan is that details like pick-up and drop off times, holiday and vacation schedules, school conference and sports attendance, and hundreds of other details can be established in advance. The more clear and thorough your parenting plan is, the less likely it is that you and your child’s other parent will experience conflicts that could make it difficult to co-parent.
Before you meet with your Rhode Island child custody lawyer ] to begin creating a parenting plan, write down a few notes that you can bring with you to your appointment:
- What holidays are most important to you? How do you celebrate them? When does the child need to be present? If this holiday is also going to be important to the other parent and his/her family, how can your children also spend time with that family? Does one family celebrate at lunchtime and the other at dinner? Does one celebrate on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day? If travel will be involved for a holiday visit with family, how will that be handled and who will pay for it?
- What are your family's religious beliefs? How will those be nurtured? If the parents have a difference of opinion about religious upbringing, how will those differences be decided?
- What activities do your children do in the summer? Which parent typically participates in that activity with them? If no parent is involved, who can get them to and from their activities? Will your child travel for summer vacation or spring break?
- Who are your child's most important friends? What activities do they do together? Which parent is most involved with that activity? Who will transport the child back and forth from that activity? Who will pay for it?
- Is your child close to members of his/her extended family? How can those important relationships be maintained? Who will be responsible for ensuring the child visits that family member?
- Does your child have a skill or ability that you want to ensure is nurtured? Who will take him/her to classes and lessons? Who will pay for it? Do both parents need to plan time for the child to practice or participate?
- What are the child's educational needs? Does he or she need help with homework? Tutoring? Special programs? Who will pay for that? Who will handle transportation?
- Does your child have any special medical needs? Who will take him/her to therapy or treatment? Who will attend meetings with the doctor? How will decisions be made about treatment?
- If you and your child's other parent experience a conflict over some aspect of parenting time, how will that conflict be resolved? What resources will you access to help you resolve it?
There are many other issues that could be included in a parenting plan. Some will be unique to your child and your family. Keep a running list.
Cranston child custody attorney protecting your parental rights
While problems can always occur, with thorough advance planning, it is much less likely to occur. And if problems do occur after a parenting plan has been approved, you can use that plan to bring the other parent back to court at a later time.
talk with an experienced Coventry child custody lawyer. Call Kerry I. Rafanelli, attorney at law, at 401-398-8388 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Providence family law attorney
Kerry I. Rafanelli
Contact Us
Kerry Rafanelli,
Attorney At Law
OUR ADDRESS:
Kerry I Rafanelli, Attorney at Law
670 Main Street, Suite C-4
East Greenwich, RI 02818
PHONE NO.
401-398-8388
FAX NO.
401-398-8399
Fill the Form Below
all questions
Frequently
Asked Questions
Consult an experienced Rhode Island divorce attorney for answers to your questions. Call Kerry I. Rafanelli, Attorney at Law, at 401-398-8388 or contact us online to schedule your consultation at our East Greenwich law office.
Should I retain a lawyer if my fiancé's attorney has already drawn up a prenuptial agreement?
Both parties to a prenuptial agreement should be represented so that you can feel confident that the contract is fair to you.
Am I considered the parent once my adoption of a child is finalized?
At the completion of your adoption, you acquire all the rights and responsibilities of a parent–including making important childrearing decisions and providing your child with financial support. Your child gains all the rights as your natural children would have involving inheritance, immigration, government benefits and healthcare coverage.
Am I entitled to visitation rights as soon as I affirm my paternity of my child?
In most cases, you are entitled to visitation with your child, but you must file a petition with the court requesting visitation.
Am I entitled to child support as soon as the father's paternity is positively affirmed?
You are entitled to financial support from the father, but you must file a petition with the court requesting child support. You may be entitled to support from previous years as well.
What is the difference between guardianship and adoption?
Adoptive parents acquire all the rights of natural parents. Guardians have legal and physical custody, but are not considered the parents of the child and must periodically appear before the court to give updates on the child’s status. In some cases, the birth parents may retain their parental rights.
Is my former spouse permitted to move my child to another state?
A custodial parent must petition the court to relocate with your child to another state. You can object to the move and present evidence at a court hearing.
What does the court consider in relocation cases?
The court considers what is in the best interest of your child — including financial advantages of the move, educational opportunities, the existence of extended family in both locations, the nature of the child’s relationship with each parent, and the logistics of visitation with the noncustodial parent.
How can I learn more about family law?
Call Kerry I. Rafanelli, Attorney at Law or contact us online to schedule your no-obligation, free consultation and get the answers to all of your family law questions.