*not looking for legal advice, just general advice.
I’m making an interstate move in the upcoming months with my 4 children. The father knows and supports/accepts this move. Generally we get along well.
Between us we want an agreement/contract written up that takes note of the best interests for our children and ourselves once I’ve moved.
While we acknowledge that’s it’s not going to be legally binding, we want proof of our agreement should things sour down the track, so we can look back at what we did agree to previously. We are both signing it to acknowledge that we have made an agreement. Again, we know it’s not legally binding, but paperwork is easier to refer to than verbal he said/she said.
We don’t have an court order or parental agreement meant locally, he sees the kids as often as he wants, we share expenses 50/50.
What would we put into our agreement ? We want to cover all bases. I have agreed to bring the kids back to his home state every second year for 10 days at my own cost fully. He is welcome to come to our new state to see the kids as often as he likes - within reason (eg not missing large amounts of the school term to see him) at his own expense re: travel and accommodation in full.
The kids all have their own iPads, so generally speaking they’re able to call him as often as they like, but what should I formally facilitate, re: amount of days/how long. We will be 2-3 hours ahead of him timezone wise so that needs to be accounted.
We’re unsure what to include. In the end we just want a signed agreement to generally follow that’s in everyone’s best interests, we want to cover all bases.
Thanks in advance.
5 Replies
Smart parents putting your kids first and doing this together. Yes things will prob change down the track but just doing this together is the right step for everyone. Speak to a lawyer. Ring the free legal advice line.
It might help to know how old the children are
As far as visits and calls go, I would stipulate more specific time frames and add in other times as agreed to by both parties. What happens on the second year if you’ve run into financial difficulty and cannot accomodate travel costs etc. what happens if he turns up when your children won’t be available for any given reason or you can’t accomodate access during this time? Life happens, things change. The more specific the better x
If it’s not a legal document and you run into trouble down the road your signed agreement doesn’t carry any weight. I’d be attending mediation and having a parenting plan at minimum put into place
Honestly I would get a lawyer to help you draw up an agreement and get it stamped by the court to make it legal. That way the kids are protected if anything goes sour.