Why Do I Need A Comprehensive Parenting Plan When We Divorce? -- Norman D. Levin, Esquire

Since Florida enacted its requirement for a comprehensive parenting plan in each dissolution of marriage and paternity case (October 1, 2008), I have had numerous discussions with judges, psychologists and lawyers on their attitudes about this. The attitudes generally fall in 3 categories: 1. We don’t have enough time to do this and it is too expensive 2. This is unnecessary and we just need to create simple boilerplate to meet this requirement 3. This requirement is the best chance you have to reduce conflict after the break up.

I agree with number three. If you take position 1 you are minimizing the value of your involvement in your children’s lives in the future. Believe it or not many judges echo these words. They perceive themselves as too busy to do this. If that is their attitude, are they the people you want to make the ultimate decisions? Surely not. A comprehensive parenting plan is needed to keep a disinterested overworked person from making important decisions for your children. There are good tools available through lawyers and on line for easy and inexpensive creation of comprehensive parenting plans. You can find mine at www.parentingplanonline.com (ParBasic) If you take position two, you are believing that chance will not throw you and your ex-partner any disagreements in the future or you are just giving away all decisions to your ex partner. If your lawyer takes this position and doesn’t work through a real plan with you, you should change lawyers and get one who will give you real assistance or get a good tool to think through where you are going.

A good Parenting Plan will help you and your ex avoid returning to the Courts to solve future disputes. A good Parenting Plan will keep you involved and connected with your children, because you cared enough to be involved in planning for them. A good Parenting Plan will make sure that your children have the benefit of two interested parents who care enough to work together in their best interests. Take a look at ParBasic at www.parentingplanonline.com or give email me at ndlevin@helpisontheway.cc so we can learn more about good parenting.

Norman D. Levin, Esquire The Family Law Firm Longwood, FL 32750 (407)834-9494 ndlevin@helpisontheway.cc