There’s no such thing as a custody dispute that’s easy. In almost every case, both parents believe that they’re right and they believe that they offer better options for child custody than their co-parent. This is why may cases end up in litigation. If you want to avoid the headache, cost, and inconvenience of ending up in court, consider the following options. Then reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at 949-585-9055 for your personalized consultation.
Create and agree to a written custody agreement and parenting plan
If you’re able to sit down and put your differences aside for a few hours, then creating your own custody agreement and parenting plan may be an option. The custody agreement would cover who has physical custody of the child at various times. The parenting plan would cover who is responsible for what, including financial issues.
This may sound simple but it can be complicated. It’s common for one or more parents to be unhappy with some aspects of the agreement. This is why we always recommend that you work with a family law attorney. A simple consultation could save you a lot of heartache down the road.
Mediation
One of the most frequent ways that parents resolve a custody issue is to go to mediation. This involves a third-party who’s completely neutral to sit down and help you solve the dispute. The job of the mediator is not to create a plan for you, but to help you come up with one together. They can help you create a plan that works for your children, teach both parents how to handle further conflicts, and help you come up with a plan that allows the child to maintain involvement with both parents.
Once again, we recommend an attorney even if you choose mediation. You never want to sign any document, no matter how simple and favorable it may seem, without a pair of legal eyes go over said document. What may seem to give you custody today could take away rights in your future.
ADR proceedings
Alternative dispute resolution, otherwise known as ADR, is an informal way to negotiate with the co-parent. It’s often a good idea if both parents are willing to work together. Once again, a family law attorney can be an active part of this process to ensure that your rights are covered and that you fully understand your options.
Reach out to an experienced attorney to get the last word
It’s understandable that you want to stay out of court. If that’s one of your goals, then we will work as hard as possible to make that happen. That said, in some cases you simply may need to. At Law Office of Michael L. Fell, our top priority is ensuring that you can do what’s best for your child. To find out more about what your options are in your current situation, or to get advice about a parenting plan you’ve come up with, reach out at 949-585-9055.