Divorce is an emotional process and it can become harder if the couple has children. Parents who are not happy in their marriage will usually stay together for the sake of their children. They don’t realize this decision actually has negative effects on everyone in the family. When children are exposed to a contentious, unhappy marriage, they experience long-lasting effects. They may follow in their parents’ footsteps and stay in an unhappy relationship themselves.

If you are considering filing a divorce, you should know the areas that must be addressed during the divorce process. A Centennial family lawyer can help address topics your parenting plan must include. Also, they will work with you to reach an agreement that will provide for the best interest of your children. The following are some things you must know when filing for divorce:

Roles and Responsibilities of Parents after a Divorce

If you want a divorce, you must have a parenting plan that determines the role and responsibilities of every parent moving forward. Sometimes, you and your spouse will continue to play a role in your kids’ lives or one of you may take on the primary parenting role. If you want to pursue divorce litigation, a judge will make such determinations in your children’s best interests. But, you and your spouse can reach an agreement through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative law. If you decide to share your parenting responsibilities, you need to specify who has the authority to make decisions regarding the education, religion, healthcare treatments, and extracurricular activities of your children.

Physical Custody or Visitation

Your parenting plan must also consider the time that your kids will spend in the care of every parent. You must make a schedule that divides your children’s time between the two of you. Ensure the schedule outlines who the child will be staying with every night of the week, during holidays, or school vacations. Your family attorney can help you make a schedule that works best for your family.

Child Support

After a divorce, one parent will be considered the custodial parent while the other is responsible for paying child support every month to provide for the children’s basic needs. But, you and your spouse may also have to divide the costs of other children-related expenses like medical insurance, educational costs, or extracurricular activities. The court will determine how much child support a parent gets based on factors such as the income of both parents, the number of children, the parenting time of every parent, and other financial considerations.