As a father going through divorce, you may have concerns about your ability to spend time with your child in the future. You may have concerns that the court will favor your ex-wife regarding matters of child custody. This is a common concern, but it doesn’t mean you should sit back and simply hope for the best. Instead, there are many ways to be proactive as your case moves forward.

One of the best things you can do as a divorcing father is discuss creating a parenting agreement with your ex-wife. Although there are times when this doesn’t work, such as if you can’t have a civilized conversation with your former spouse, most people find that it puts everyone, including your child, in a better position to succeed in the future.

The details of a parenting agreement

A parenting agreement gives both parents the ability to negotiate and resolve issues concerning child custody and visitation. Once all of the details are hashed out, a written agreement is finalized. From there, both parents will follow through with the details of the agreement when raising the child.

Parenting agreements differ from family to family, but they typically include:

• Where the parent will live.
• The visitation schedule for the other parent.
• Who will make major decisions regarding the child’s upbringing.
• Contact with other people, such as grandparents, extended family and friends.
• A process for handling disputes.

The last point is among the most important because you never know what the future could bring. Even if you and your ex-wife are able to create a parenting agreement, it doesn’t mean you’ll never run into challenges. With a dispute resolution process in place, you’ll know which steps to take if you’re finding it difficult to work through a particular detail.

With so many benefits of a parenting agreement, divorcing fathers should look into this strategy. You aren’t in an ideal situation, but this type of agreement can make things much better for you and your child in the future. As long as you make decisions with the best interests of your child in mind, everything can work out in the end.

This blog post should not be taken as official legal advice. If you need more information about divorce, it’s best to speak with an experienced attorney like Daniel H. Chambers, Attorney at Law, PC.

Mr. Chambers is a respected attorney in the Alabama legal community who takes pride in successfully negotiating favorable settlements for his clients because he never wants his clients to spend a dime more than necessary.

Mr. Chambers is also prepared to fight for you in the courtroom. He prepares every case as if it will head to trial because he wants to be ready to make the best possible arguments on your behalf at the negotiating table and in court.

Click here to get a free consultation with an experienced Birmingham, AL family lawyer.