Establishing Parenting Time
Agreeing on a matter as important as parenting time is something that presents challenges for some parents. Many parents don’t see eye to eye when it comes to the care and custody of their child. This is especially true if there are concerns of abuse or neglect. New Jersey courts encourage parents to first try to negotiate an agreement on parenting time on their own or with the help of a mediator. Unfortunately, not all parents can do this.
Your Next Step
If you are unable to reach an agreement on parenting time with your child’s other parent on your own or in mediation, the court will have to decide for you. What you do at this point is very important. The court will require both you and the other parent to submit a proposed parenting plan to include a custody arrangement and parenting time schedule. Parenting time is the visitation the non-custodial parent will have with the child. The judge can then decide which plan to use and/or what changes to make.
Because so much is left up the judge’s discretion, it is vital you draft a proposed parenting plan that is truly in the best interests of your child. An experienced New Jersey custody attorney can help you do this and help you present your argument to the court so the judge has all the important information needed to make an informed decision.
If you can’t agree on parenting time, you may want to speak with an attorney. Few issues are as important as parenting time to both child and parent. If you’ve been ordered to go to mediation and were not able to reach an agreement, you may want an attorney to assist you with the next step. Developing a parenting plan is difficult and requires a consideration of many factors. It must adhere to New Jersey law and be in your child’s best interests as well. The judge can reject your plan or change parts of it, so you will want to makes sure you’ve crafted a solid plan and timesharing schedule before submitting it to the court. An attorney can assist you with developing a proposed parenting plan that suits your family’s needs and serve as your advocate during the hearing process.
Do you have questions about parenting time? The attorneys at the Williams Law Group, LLC know how important parenting time is and will help you establish an effective parenting time schedule. Located in Union, New Jersey, Williams Law Group, LLC provides compassionate and dedicated legal services to Union, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, and the surrounding areas. Our knowledgeable attorneys handle divorce and family law, child custody, and child abuse/neglect cases. Call our office at (908) 810-1083, email us at info@awilliamslawgroup.com, or contact us through our confidential online form to schedule a consultation so you can work with an experienced New Jersey divorce and child custody attorney.
