Talking to your partner about decision making
in Family Law
You and your partner can try to agree on decision-making responsibility without going to court. Decision-making responsibility used to be called custody. You can talk to your partner on your own, with the help of someone you both trust, or with the help of a lawyer or mediator.
Some of the things you have to decide on are:
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who makes major decisions about your child
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who your child lives with
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whether one of you has to pay child support and how much child support
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how to discuss things to avoid conflicts
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how to get information about your child from other people like doctors and teachers
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how to deal with changes in the future
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If you agree on issues related to your children, you can make a parenting plan. A parenting plan can be an informal arrangement between the two of you, or it can be part of your separation agreement.
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Talking to your partner may not be an option where there is a history of partner abuse.
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Your parenting plan or separation agreement has to follow certain rules to make it binding and enforceable under the law. This means your agreement is made in a way that allows the court to order you or your partner to do what the agreement says, if either of you stop following it. Caution is advised when making a separation agreement as they usually end in litigation when improperly drafted. Contact us today for assistance with your separation agreement.
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