lved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, paternIt is much more complicated to get a divorce when children are involved. This is because there are sensitive questions to answer regarding child custody and visitation rights. If you have children and are divorcing, a critical task ahead is to reach an agreement with your spouse about who will get the children and how often the other can see them. Put your kids first, no matter how angry you may be or how difficult your communication with your spouse is. don't let a judge or other employee of the court do it for you. After all, they're your children! Keep an open mind and seek any and all help you need -- whether from a counselor, a family mediator, or a custody evaluator.

To help set the stage for a productive post-divorce relationship, write a parenting agreement or parenting plan. During the process of writing such a plan, you and your future ex-spouse will have the opportunity to discuss many issues that will arise throughout your children's youthful lives. There is tremendous value in this plan being in writing. If the other parent constantly breaks the agreement, you will have evidence that he or she had originally agreed in writing. This can be a motivating factor in parents sticking to a plan.

Elements that should probably be included in your parenting plan:
* custody and living arrangements
* visitation
* financial issues
* education
* medical care
* religious training (or lack thereof)
* holidays and how they will be spent
* diet

It is sensible to collect and go over all relevant documents, prior to writing said plan. These will vary, depending on if you're already in the midst of divorcing or if you've already been involved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, patern

tion with your spouse is. don't let a judge or other employee of the court do it for you. After all, they're your children! Keep an open mind and seek any and all help you need -- whether from a counselor, a family mediator, or a custody evaluator.

To help set the stage for a productive post-divorce relationship, write a parenting agreement or parenting plan. During the process of writing such a plan, you and your future ex-spouse will have the opportunity to discuss many issues that will arise throughout your children's youthful lives. There is tremendous value in this plan being in writing. If the other parent constantly breaks the agreement, you will have evidence that he or she had originally agreed in writing. This can be a motivating factor in parents sticking to a plan.

Elements that should probably be included in your parenting plan:
* custody and living arrangements
* visitation
* financial issues
* education
* medical care
* religious training (or lack thereof)
* holidays and how they will be spent
* diet

It is sensible to collect and go over all relevant documents, prior to writing said plan. These will vary, depending on if you're already in the midst of divorcing or if you've already been involved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, patern

-spouse will have the opportunity to discuss many issues that will arise throughout your children's youthful lives. There is tremendous value in this plan being in writing. If the other parent constantly breaks the agreement, you will have evidence that he or she had originally agreed in writing. This can be a motivating factor in parents sticking to a plan.

Elements that should probably be included in your parenting plan:
* custody and living arrangements
* visitation
* financial issues
* education
* medical care
* religious training (or lack thereof)
* holidays and how they will be spent
* diet

It is sensible to collect and go over all relevant documents, prior to writing said plan. These will vary, depending on if you're already in the midst of divorcing or if you've already been involved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, patern

* custody and living arrangements
* visitation
* financial issues
* education
* medical care
* religious training (or lack thereof)
* holidays and how they will be spent
* diet

It is sensible to collect and go over all relevant documents, prior to writing said plan. These will vary, depending on if you're already in the midst of divorcing or if you've already been involved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, paternlved in child custody proceedings. The documentation may include: court documents you have filed or received (i.e., "summons", "petition", "complaint", "response", "answer", "declaration", or "affidavit"); correspondence from a counselor, attorney, mediator, or other court official regarding your separation, divorce, paternity, child support, custody, or visitation; court orders regarding a legal separation, divorce, paternity declaration, or award of child custody; previously mediated, arbitrated, or negotiated agreements between you and the other parent; documents showing dissolution of your religious marriage, or describing your marital status and your options according to your religious denomination, and reports, letters, or evaluations from school officials, counselors, or others who have interactions with your children.

While it may not be absolutely necessary to have all these documents in order to create a parenting plan, having them can help speed up the process. This is especially true if you are already going through a separation or divorce. If you or the other parent have already instigated a court proceeding, you may have a deadline for submitting the parenting agreement. Look over all the documents you gather, carefully. If you need help locating or understanding any of them, seek assistance from an attorney, court clerk, paralegal, marriage counselor, or mediator. Some of those staff may also be able to help you work with your spouse.