Parenting Plan

THERE IS A FREE £500 VOUCHER TOWARDS MEDIATION WHEN DISCUSSING ISSUES RELATED TO CHILDREN AND CO-PARENTING

Parenting Plan and Family Mediation

Creating a parenting plan with your ex-partner can help ensure your children’s needs are met both now and in the future. Our expert mediators at 2Mediate are here to guide you through this process, helping you reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

What is a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan is a flexible, negotiated agreement between parents about their responsibilities after separation or divorce. It covers essential aspects like living arrangements, education, healthcare, and holidays, and can be tailored to fit your family’s unique needs. Unlike a court order, a parenting plan can be adjusted over time as circumstances change, keeping the focus on what’s best for the children.

Benefits of a Parenting Plan:

  • Stability for Children: A well-structured plan helps children feel secure by providing clarity about their care and future.

  • Clear Expectations for Parents: Parents gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities, reducing the potential for conflicts.

  • Flexibility: The plan can evolve as children grow, ensuring it remains relevant and effective. Providing a loving, caring safe environment tailored to the children’s ages and needs.

  • Broad- ranging Coverage: It addresses all aspects of a child's upbringing, from everyday routines to long-term decisions like education and financial planning.

When making a parenting plan, the child's best interests are always the top priority. You can involve your children in the mediation process by inviting them to child-inclusive mediation (CIM) and asking about their wishes and feelings. The feedback you receive from your child's session may help make more informed and suitable arrangements.

What’s in a parenting plan

A typical parenting plan includes discussions and agreements on the following:

  • Living Arrangements: Where the children will live and when they will spend time with each parent.

  • Decision-Making: How major decisions about the children's upbringing, such as education and healthcare, will be made.

  • Special Occasions: Plans for birthdays, religious celebrations, and other significant events.

  • Changeovers: How changeovers between parents are organized.

  • Holidays: Arrangements for holidays, both domestic and overseas.

  • Passport Maintenance: Who keeps and maintains the child’s passport.

  • Healthcare Providers: Information about the child’s GP and dental practice.

  • Parental Communication: Guidelines on how parents will communicate and share information about the children.

  • Dispute Resolution: How disagreements or conflicts related to the parenting plan will be resolved.

  • Relocation: Rules and guidelines if one parent wishes to move a significant distance away.

  • Financial Obligations: Details on child support, healthcare, and other financial responsibilities.

  • Special Needs: Provisions for addressing unique needs or circumstances of the children, such as special educational needs or assessments.

  • Plan Amendments: How the plan can be changed in the future if needed.

This list is not exhaustive, as every family is unique, and you may want to include other relevant topics.

How We Can Help:
Our experienced mediators will facilitate discussions to help you and your ex-partner create a parenting plan that suits your family's needs. Mediation allows for a supportive, neutral space to discuss and resolve differences, ensuring that the final plan is one that everyone can agree on.

Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment and start creating a parenting plan that works for your family.