A parenting plan is a document filed with the court to assist families who are going through a divorce by considering th effects of the divorce on all family members. A parenting plan does not include issues to property division and financial issues. Both parents are required to put together a document regarding specific parenting duties. Both parents should be actively involved in the preparation of this document. The main concern that is considered in preparing a parenting is the best interest of the children.
You parenting plan should include: (1) a plan for both parents to continue to be involved with the children's activities including school, sports, and other interest; (2) an agreement about which parent will have residency of the children and a plan for parenting time with the other parent; (3) a plan for how major decisions will be made regarding the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing; (4) an agreement on a schedule for holidays, special occasions, vacations, and unique situations; (5) a plan to reduce harmful parental conflict, including a way to modify the agreement when necessary to adjust to the changing needs of the children and parents; and (6) an agreement to use mediation or other nonjudical procedures to resolve any future disputes which may develop.
Kansas law requires a court to develop a parenting plan when a divorce which involves children is filed in a court. The parents may both agree to plan they develop, a plan their lawyers develop, or a plan developed with the assistance of a mediator. A judge will review the plan to insure it is in the best interest of the children. The court may approve the plan, modify the plan, or request that the parents develop a new plan.
Below is a link to a PDF for an example of a Kansas Parenting Plan. This is a plan that has been approved by the Kansas Supreme Court and provide by the Kansas Judicial Council. I hope it helps.
The only problem with Kansas judges are that they are, like so many, PRO MOM. Judges need to start looking more at the dads now days and see that bio moms are just wanting custody for the child support, not because they want the kids. Good Dads who pay their child support, who DO want to see their kids, don't get the fair amount of visitation time OR ask for it, get denied by the bio mom, the dad takes the bio mom back to court for more with alllll this documentation of him asking her for more but is STILL denied by the judge saying "the child is not use to it, it's not in his/her best interst." Whatever!!!! Give it a chance. Children are more resilient than judges give them credit for!!! Unless these dads are abusing the kids, it should be 50/50 custody if possible (long distance IS NOT possible). I'm tired of dealing with the bio mom we have to deal with, her not letting my husband see his daughter cuz of "that's what the papers say" and the judge not doing anything about it. It's a crock.
Posted by: Heather Page | April 23, 2007 at 08:34 AM