Child Custody Agreements: Steps to Create Your Custody Schedule

By Dianna Nelsun

A child custody agreement is the document that both parents agree on that outlines the terms of who the child will live with, when the child will visit the other parent and any other information about raising the children that the parents want included. Once a custody agreement has been decided, the parents can go to court and the court will adopt it into a court order. If an agreement can't be reached between the parents, the court will make the decisions about the agreement and then make it into the order.

Parents are usually better off if they can reach an agreement before going to court. This is because if both parents agree on the terms of custody and visitation they will be more likely to live by those terms. And, both parents will be happy with the results.

One of the most important things in the custody agreement is the custody and visitation schedule. Once parents have this figured out the rest is pretty easy. Here is the basic outline of how to figure out the schedule.

First, decide on how you will divide up custody and figure it out in terms of a rotating schedule. For example, if the parents decide they will split custody evenly figure out how that will be done. Maybe the parents will rotate weeks, or maybe only parent will have the children on weekdays and the other parent will have weekends and a few visits.

Come up with the schedule for custody and then map it out on a calendar. For example, say you come up with the outline that the child spends the weekdays with one parent and the weekends with the other. Block out the time on a calendar so you can see what it actually looks like.

The next step is to figure out the holiday and vacation schedule. Write out a list of the holidays and divide them between the parents. Make sure both parents have the same number of big and small holidays.

Then decide on the vacation time you want to allot to each parent. For example, you can include a clause that says each parent can take the children on vacation for two seven day periods in the year. Or you can actually specify dates when the parents will have vacation time.

It is helpful to write out the holidays and the division of custody in a table and then go through and add them in your calendar. You can also write in the dates of vacation if they are known, or put in your unspecified vacation. It's nice to have the information in two different formats.

The last things to add are the special events. You'll want to put in one time events, like a parent's or child's birthday, and any recurring special events, like baseball games during the season. Basically, special events are any times the custody situation may change because of other events going on. Put them on the calendar and write them out in a list.

All of this may seem time consuming and tedious--but it is worth it to get the custody agreement you want. You may want to investigate the various custody software programs available. There are some that let you create you custody and visitation schedule very easy. This can be helpful; especially if you need to create multiple schedules so you and the child's other parent can agree.

If you do all of this work it will be easier for you and the child's other parent to agree on custody and visitation. You can both work together to create and modify a schedule that works for you and that you're both happy with. Then you can be satisfied knowing the court will accept your agreement.

About the Author:

Learn more information about child custody agreements and find out how to create your personalized custody agreement with the software Custody X Change.

Child Custody: Three Hints to Help You

By Dianna Nelsun

You're going through a divorce and you're trying to figure out your child custody situation. Where do you start? How do you get through all of the information that you need to? What are the best solutions for your child?

Take heart. There is a way to get through all of this. If you are willing to put in the time and the effort then you will figure out how to manage your custody situation and help your child through it too. Here are three ideas of how to do this.

1. Put your child's needs first. It can be difficult for a divorcing parent to put aside their own emotions and focus on doing what is best for the child. When creating your custody agreement, don't base your decisions on what you want or on revenge for the child's other parent. Try to be objective and think about your children first.

You know your child the best, and your child and custody situation are unique. You need to figure out the solutions that will work for you. Don't worry about appearing unconventional; adopt any method that helps you and your child.

2. Be flexible your custody and visitation schedule. Of course parents want to have the most time they can with their child. And, they should try to get as much time as possible. However, they need to remember that they are sharing the time with the other parent who also wants as much time as possible.

You can make a custody schedule that is fair to both parents. Base the custody and visitation times on what is best for your child. There are many options available and you can experiment with some of them to find out what works best.

3. Seek out resources. There are a lot of ways for you to get help during this. You can always talk to a lawyer, get information from the courthouse or online, download a custody software to help you make a schedule, go to a support group or try to mediation. Explore your options.

These ideas can help give you encouragement as you manage your situation. Try to remain positive and help your child remain positive as well. Once you get everything settled, you can relax and enjoy your time as a parent.

About the Author:

Get more information about child custody and learn how the program Custody X Change can help you make your perfect child custody and visitation schedule.

What Everybody Ought to Know About Divorce?

By Dennis Gac

An epidemic has been slowly gathering momentum for the last many decades. Over the last two centuries, the world has undergone such changes that our forefathers couldn't even imagine of. Due to globalization, the world is becoming increasingly smaller as barriers break between different cultures. Science and technology has surpassed the wildest limits of human imagination. However, man has to pay a very dear price for such glory. Human relationships, which are the basis of all existence, are breaking down. Today's times are being marked for the increasing shallowness of relationships.

Broken homes no longer excite any surprise as the word "divorce" becomes a term of everyday use. With an increased demand for professional marriage counselors, people are flocking to whoever is available, for solutions. The scenario is extremely chaotic as one may imagine. Broken relationships and custody battles over children are occurrences that man has learnt to take in his stride. As behind every other phenomenon, causes abound here as well. For all the hype and glory surrounding globalization, one is really led to wonder about what interconnectedness it has achieved.

Man seems to be becoming more of an escapist with the lapse of time. Couples are unwilling to take the time and effort to solve matters and save a marriage. The only exit route is a divorce. One leads to another and so we have this new wave of emulation where one divorce encourages other couples to even consider it and keep it at the back of their minds. We have deliberately limited our options, to such a level that nothing other than divorce can make sense of a happy marriage. Our minds shut down and refuse to look beyond it. In short we have cut down our cognitive powers to almost a standstill.

This is a psychological phenomenon of close ended thinking. Our thinking processes become absolutely stationary and no other options but the one present in front of our eyes exist. We do not even bother to reflect and look for other solutions before calling up our lawyers to draw up divorce papers. Parting ways seem to be the only thing to do today. People are getting divorces for the pettiest of reasons, and that too just because everyone is too selfish and egoistic to make the first move in working things out.

The social and the psychological side effects of divorce are immense. Not only are the two people involved, it becomes worse if there are children as well. These kids grow up watching their parents fight out bitter battles in the divorce courts, slinging bitter abuses and allegations at each other. These children with such a traumatic background grow up to be repressed individuals with a variety of social, mental and physical problems. Also it sets a trend for the future generations to come, for whom divorces are the best options available. It takes only a minor misunderstanding or a petty fight for a couple to start off divorce proceedings. True commitment doesn't let go so easily. Divorce is an alarming phenomenon that has arrived as emotional baggage in the advanced lifestyle of modern man.

About the Author:

Dennis Gac represents Father Rights Organization which helps fathers to regain their children's back into their custody. If you wish to know more about father rights just visit the website http://www.fathershelphotonline.com and more information about father rights.