Monmouth County Legal Blog

When it comes to organizing a parenting plan, two parents sharing child custody have a lot to keep in mind. For example, you need to know what will work for you and the other parent's schedules, and you also have to honor the unique needs and ages of the children involved.

Additionally, because your parenting plan will be difficult to change later on down the road, it needs to cover all the bases clearly, while offering some level of flexibility.

Nearly every family law attorney will tell you that if you and your spouse can mediate your divorce, or find some other way to reach an out-of-court settlement, you'll save time, money and a lot of headaches. When you consider these benefits, it's easy to see why couples find the motivation necessary to overcome their differences during mediation.

That said, not all mediations are a success. One thing that can help you overcome obstacles during your meditation is to familiarize yourself with the process before it begins.

For many divorcing couples, custody of the minor children from the marriage is the most contentious and emotional issue. Both parents likely want to spend as much time as possible with their children. This can make compromising about custody difficult. What spouses can't come to an agreement on their own about custody, support and parenting time, the courts will step in to ensure everything gets handled properly.

For divorcing parents, not knowing what the custody outcome of your divorce will be is nerve-wracking. It's all too easy to find horror stories online, telling of doting parents denied shared custody or even visitation. You could start to worry that you won't get to see your children at all. In most cases, barring an inability to provide for your kids, a history of abuse or neglect, or issues with chemical dependence, shared custody is the most likely outcome to a custody dispute in divorce.

You've reached a point where you know that your marriage isn't salvageable. Sometimes, a marriage dies slowly over the years, and other times a sudden event, like infidelity, can bring a divorce out of nowhere. Regardless of the reason, chances are that you're trying to figure out the best way to handle your divorce and move on with your life.

If you and your spouse are able to communicate with one another, even if you don't currently agree on critical terms for your divorce, mediation could be a valid option. Instead of going to court, presenting evidence, testifying and hoping that the judge makes a decision you can live with, you can both have an active part in determining the outcome of your divorce. For many couples, mediation is a faster, simpler and more affordable option than dragging a contentious divorce through the courts.