What are the Objectives of A Parenting Plan?

Utah parents may be interested in some information about the goals of a parenting plan should their marriage end up in a divorce. This is an important step in the process, and it must be done with the best interests of the child as the primary goal.

A parenting plan is an important part of the child custody arrangement. It is intended to govern the allocation of the various functions that the parents will endeavor to undertake regarding their child. This plan is then incorporated into the divorce or annulment decree, approved and issued by the court.

The goals of the parenting plan include showing how the child’s parents will provide for an environment that allows emotional and familial stability. The plan should address how the parents will provide for the child’s physical care, as well. The plan must be flexible or modifiable, in order to continue to provide for the child as their specific needs change over time. The plan seeks to avoid further judicial intervention by being comprehensive enough to allow the parents to work out issues on their own. This will serve the goal of minimizing inter-parental conflict, which can harm the child’s emotional and physical upbringing. Overall, the essential goal of creating and abiding by a parenting plan is to serve the best interests of the child.

The process of creating and implementing an acceptable parenting plan can sometimes be difficult without the help of a family law attorney. Such an attorney can represent one parent in negotiating the parenting plan, as well as provide advice and counsel on other issues including child custody and support as well as property division that arise during the divorce proceedings.

Source: Utah State Legislature , “Chapter 3 Divorce“, January 06, 2015