Parenting Time Disputes, Parenting Time Modifications

Parenting time arrangements while more modifiable than custody awards are still best resolved in divorces. As a divorce lawyer a fine line is walked during a divorce. The fine line of parenting time is attempting to foster a settlement given the facts of today while looking into the future to see what issues may come up. Moves both in state and out of state, job changes, schedule changes, and activity changes are the primary reasons that parenting time modifications are necessary. The changes in parenting time in turn have affects areas such as child support.

The goal of a divorce is to separate the parties as much as possible. The literal definition of divorce is "to separate, to cut off, to disassociate." When children are in the mix it is impossible to fully separate the parties through a divorce because the parties will always have that common thread. A well crafted divorce decree will take as much uncertainty as possible out of future parenting time disputes or changes. Some tools include including devices for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) rather than requiring that the parties return to court to resolve differences. As part of a well crafted divorce decree concerning parenting time (visitation), inclusion of a mediator, parenting time expediter, or arbitrator is in most cases best for the parties and the child because it allows a lower cost resolution both in terms of emotional and monetary costs.