The phrase “a day late and a dollar short” is one that many California parents know too well. That’s because, once you ink and sign your child custody agreement, it’s difficult to change the terms you’ve agreed to.
In some situations, though, it’s not the terms parents agree to that become the problem. It’s the terms they forgot to include that end up biting them where it hurts.
Parenting time and child exchange provisions
When drafting your child custody agreement, you and your ex can include different provisions in the agreement that add more clarity to your legal responsibilities. One area that you may want to cover with certain provisions relates to when and how you pick up your child, and other issues related to parenting time.
Here are some topics your parenting provisions should address to avoid ambiguity and disagreement between you and the other parent of your children:
Dropoffs and pickups: Include language that clearly indicates where the parent will drop off and/or pickup the children, how transportation will be provided and by whom during exchanges. You’ll probably want to specify that third parties cannot be used to exchange the children without prior approval.
Transportation requirements: You’ll want to make sure to note that only insured and licensed drivers may pick up and drop off the children. Parents cannot drive the children anywhere without a license and a registered car. Parents must obey all driving laws when children are in the car, as well as adhere to common sense safe vehicle operation considerations.
Specify if the parent will wait in his or her car and the other parent will wait in his or her home during exchanges, especially if the parents have a difficult time seeing one another without negative feelings. You may also want to provide that the parents do not discuss important issues during pickups and dropoffs and that these issues should be discussed out of the earshot of children.
Specify that children must be dropped off and/or picked up at the designated time and indicate a plan for what will happen if one parent is late and/or a “no-show.”
Accommodations for children: Parents can indicate what kind of items and clothing both parents will maintain at their respective homes. Will the children go back to the other parent in the same clothing that he or she wore upon arrival? Specify that separate and private sleeping quarters will be maintained for the children when they are spending time with the other parent.
Can you think of other parenting provisions to include?
For the most part — and as long as the provisions are reasonable — parents are not restricted by the provisions they include, if they both agree to them. The clearer you can be with the other parent about your expectations in your child custody and parenting plan agreements, the more likely you and your ex will avoid parenting plan disagreements later on down the road.