The Importance Of A Proactive Parenting Plan Before Divorce For First Responders

In this article, you will discover:

• The importance of a parenting plan for divorced first responders in Minnesota.
• Whether a parenting plan for first responders should include emergency or overtime contingencies.
• How a solid parenting plan can prevent conflict.

What Is A Parenting Plan, And Why Is It Important For First Responders?

A parenting plan is a day-to-day schedule that lets all parties, parents and children, know who the children will be with and when. One-week-off-one-week-on schedules often work well for older children and teens, where the child spends a week with one parent and the following week with the other. Younger children usually benefit from a split schedule, which allows for varying amounts of time spent with each parent.

A parenting plan should also cover parenting time for the holidays, taking into consideration each parent’s family traditions. Those plans can be negotiated and structured in a way that works for all family members.

If you are a first responder with non-traditional schedules and non-traditional parenting time, both parties will need to work around those schedules. Clear communication about the current and future schedules is essential.

How Do Minnesota Courts View Proactive Planning In Custody Cases Involving First Responders?

Judges tend to look favorably on parents who work well together to serve the best interests of their children. The better you and your ex are at working together and not putting the children in the middle of disputes, the better off your children will be.

You may also want to consider and plan for a time in the future when your spouse might date someone else. You may want to set some guidelines around that now. While there may ultimately be hurt feelings surrounding that situation, having a plan, rules, and standards in place will be better for your children.

What Should Be Included In A Parenting Plan For First Responders?

Many first responders work different shifts and have differing types of parenting plans. Because their shifts rotate regularly, having both a plan and a backup plan is usually a good idea. Being able to work with the other parent is also helpful.

Attorney Kathleen Gomez is a skilled lawyer based in Otsego, MN, who has helped countless clients just like you navigate the intricacies of family law. With years of experience as a police officer and family law attorney, she is prepared to assist you in creating flexible parenting plans that address the unique scheduling conflicts of first responders who value their parenting time.

Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact Gomez Law PLLC today to schedule an initial consultation.

Can A Parenting Plan For First Responders Include Emergency Or Overtime Contingencies?

Yes, you can plan for those emergencies. It always goes back to cooperation and effective co-parenting. A first responder never knows what’s coming because they deal with emergencies daily. You can’t put 911 on pause just because there’s a shift change and you have parenting time scheduled.

With some agencies, there may be coverage that allows you to go home. If overtime is likely, plan for it accordingly. Altering the schedule to start the next day might be the best way to do that.

If you deal with emergencies regularly, perhaps the plan is that you’re not on call during the weeks you have parenting time. Depending on the ages of your children, they may be able to go to the other spouse when there’s a callout.

Case Study: Can You Describe A Situation Where A Solid Parenting Plan Prevented Future Conflict?

As a police officer, I witnessed many plans that didn’t work. Suppose there’s parenting time scheduled and a supervisor is required, but the parents disagree on who the supervisor is. In such instances, the police find themselves caught in the middle, with little they can do. There’s no order to enforce because there’s no information.

Having a plan with holes in it is likely to create conflicts. However, some conflicts are foreseeable, and you can plan for them and put measures in place to avoid them. It’s helpful to have an attorney look at those situations.

You don’t want to go back to court to review these issues later. While returning to court is inevitable in some cases, it’s not necessary in all of them.

While many people prefer to handle their divorce independently, what you don’t know can create more problems for you. It’s often less expensive to hire an attorney to draft a comprehensive parenting plan that anticipates your work as a first responder and your future needs.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on parenting plans for first responders in Minnesota, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (763) 272-7306 today.