Parenting / consent order.
If you were to do a p/c order, how would you go about it if it involved a 8yr old, seperated parents with an hour worth of traveling between each homes. And you were the parent that the child doesn't live with, and has the child every fortnight and special occasions. If you have done one please share your experience or if you know of one. Side note, the other party wants a strictly consistent schedule but wants us to draw one up. Do not get along for silly reasons and we just want this to be done the best way possible so we can put the bs aside and get things to where they need to be without a lawyer.
Thanks mummas.
3 Replies
If the current arrangements are working for the child I'd just want those areangements formalised. It also depends on how well the parties communicate. If there are communication problems/fights then it pays to have even the tiniest details included. Eg 'father will collect child at set location and set time'.
Some exes seem to already communicate quite well so don't need the detail.
Basically you want details of special occasions, notification of child leaving state or country, notification of illness, copies of school reports, teacher/parent interviews etc., if the child wants to take up a weekend hobby who pays and will both parties agree to take on there weekend.
Apply for mediation and then when an agreement is reached get it lodged with the courts so it is legally binding.
My agreement states every 2nd weekend, half of school holidays the children are with the dad. If a long weekend falls on his weekend he can have them for the public holiday also.
Half of school holidays, alternating first half of school holidays on even years, 2nd half of school holidays in odd years.
If mothers day falls on his weekend then the kids return to me for mothers day. If fathers day falls on my weekend, the kids go to him for fathers day.
Xmas and Easter we usually alternate each year although now we live closer than we did, if I have the kids for xmas day, I send them to him for boxing day and vice versa. Easter this year we split in half.
I used the parenting plan template in the little handbook from relationships Australia as a guide. I did all the work in regard to researching and preparing the document, then chasing the ex to meet in a neutral place (local cafe) to discuss and get him to sign it. I sent a copy to the Child Support Agency on their recommendation. It is not a legally enforced document but the courts (if went that far) like to see private arrangements and/or mediation have been attempted.
If things are strained, contact Relationships Australia to set up mediation,and they will help with drafting the parenting plan. I persevered with ex far too long, it was very frustrating. I should've just made the call for mediation. Having a third person involved would have avoided playing his silly games...
Have a look online, you might find a variety of parenting plan templates to get some ideas, and see how every detail of care can be documented, including who pays for what, where and what time handover occurs, how parents will communicate, how much notice required if changing care arrangements etc