There are a variety of issues that newly separated parents in North Carolina will need to resolve. For instance, exes must decide where the child will go to school and if extended family members will have regular contact. Parents will also need to figure out who gets custody during holidays or extended school breaks. A parenting plan may help individuals resolve these and other issues that arise.
As a child gets older, a parenting plan might need to be adapted to account for who provides transportation to extracurricular activities. It might also need to stipulate who gets to decide when a teen is ready to date or get a job. If a parent wants to relocate, it could result in fundamental changes to a custody or visitation plan. This could result in a need to renegotiate a child support agreement or other financial agreements that have been reached.
The plan itself may stipulate how to address changes or what happens if conflicts arise between the parents themselves. For example, disputes can be resolved through mediation. If parents do agree to resolve conflicts with the help of a mediator, the plan should help determine who will act as the mediator.
Even if a parent is unable to obtain physical custody rights, they are still typically allowed to take an active role in the child’s life. An attorney could help a parent obtain greater visitation or legal custody rights to a son or daughter. This may be done by using statements from teachers or others showing that the child thrives under the parent’s supervision.