PARENTING PLAN
A parenting plan is essentially a roadmap directing how children will be raised after separation or divorce. As a co-parenting solution, it is a written agreement drafted by both parents with the help of a neutral third party, usually a social worker, psychologist or family lawyer, acting as a mediator.
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Parenting plan
It's all about planning
A parenting plan is a legally binding document, constituted by the Childrens Act 38 of 2005, between parents or co-holders of parental responsibilities and rights to determine how to raise the children after separation or divorce.
The primary purpose of a parenting plan is to reflect the interests and needs of the child. A parenting plan can help to reduce conflict between parents by setting out clear guidelines and expectations to minimize conflict in an already volatile situation.
The content of the parenting plan is unique and consists of anything the parents feel necessary for the parenting plan.
This plan is compiled for a specific family and represents the best possible solutions to avoid future litigation and to ensure the optimal participation of both parents and their minor child/children. It is very possible to draft your own parenting plan with the guidance and help of a competent organization. If things are volatile and explosive, which very often happens, it might be a better option to opt for an assisted or mediated process. A mediated process guides the development of the plan to address the ever-changing needs of the minor child/children involved, while taking into account the inputs made by the child/children given their age, maturity and stage of development. This is done with the help of a neutral third party, such as a social worker, psychologist or family law lawyer, acting as impartial mediator.
The plan should always be in the best interest to the child or children. The parenting plan contains the negotiated decisions of both parents regarding the upbringing of their children in respect of the following.
- The shared values and norms that will underscore both parent’s parenting interactions in which the children will be brought up on.
- Financial responsibilities (maintenance) of each parent.
- Access of parents to their children including access of third parties (i.e. grandparents, new relationships ect).
- Residency of children including major holidays, birthdays and any other special events.
- Health provisions such as medical aid coverage, medical consent and medication.
- Decision making and shared parenting tasks including how discipline will be handled, how disagreements about aspects in the parenting plan and those that may arise will be managed.
- The names that the child/ren will be called by including nicknames.
- Religious affiliation, attendance and religious ceremonies.
- Schooling of children including language, type of schools as well as extramural activities.
- Any other specified aspect of the child/ children’s rearing that has to be considered.