If you have children under the age of 18, you must attend a parenting seminar, negotiate a parenting plan, establish child support, living arrangements, etc. Parenting plans include several major elements including which parent will be the primary residential parent and which will be the alternate residential parent, and who has the right to make decisions concerning the child’s education, medical care, and other issues.
The parenting plan will designate a Primary Residential Parent (PRP), the one the child will live with most of the time. The child may live primarily with one parent, or live with each parent for an equal amount of time. Parenting plans establish terms and amounts for child support.
If parents cannot come to an agreement concerning a parenting plan, the court will make one for them. The court considers many different factors when deciding a parenting plan including financial stability, living standards, and the overall relationship of the parent and child. Children 12 years or older may also express a preference as to which parent they would like to live with. Regardless of the circumstances, the ultimate goal of the parenting plan is always the best interests of the child.