In many cases, COVID has or will have an effect on Parenting Plans for families where the parents are already divorced and for those who will be divorced going forward.
A Parenting Plan is a document that sets forth when the child(ren) will be with either parent. Often it is specific as to days and times, school vacations, and holidays.
The working and living arrangements in many families have changed since the COVID pandemic began. Many parents are working remotely from home rather than physically being in an office, which was often a substantial distance from home.
Parenting Plans should reflect the family’s circumstances including the children’s school and activities as well as the parents’ work schedules. It has not been uncommon for a parent to declare at the onset of divorce proceedings that he or she wants “50-50” parenting time only to come to realize that such an arrangement is not practical given work schedules. Now that more parents are working remotely from home, often with more flexible schedules, an arrangement where parenting time is shared differently or in some cases equally may in fact be more doable.
Parents are always entitled to agree between themselves on changes to their Parenting Plan and in fact, flexibility is typically in the best interests of the children. As a last resort, either parent may be able to seek a modification from the Court of an existing Parenting Plan.
Shared by Carole Topol Orland, Esq.
Westport/Greenwich
www.ctfamilylaw.com