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| 11271 Ventura Blvd. |
| Suite 473 |
| Studio City, CA 91604 |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Warner Center Towers |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Watt Plaza |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Fashion Island |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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Child Support
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Functional Parenting Requires a Plan
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A parenting plan is an agreement between parents outlining the custody of their children. A parenting plan accounts for which parent has the children on which days, the process through which decisions are made about the children's education, health, and religion; and how to handle significant life changes in the life of either party.
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There are many reasons to work out a parenting plan. The most important reason is because courts generally go along with plans to which both parents have agreed. This allows the parents to have maximum control over their children’s future. This is very important considering that parents should know their children’s needs the best. Working together to create a parenting plan will ensure that the parents can meet the scheduling needs and preferences of the children. Sometimes these needs and preferences can be very specific and cannot be adequately addressed by the court. In that case, let The Law Offices of Thomas & Associates work with you to establish a functional, yet flexible parenting plan.
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Parenting plans should include:
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- A plan regarding school breaks, holidays, and summer vacations;
- Definition of when holidays start and end;
- An accounting of visitation on days like Mother's Day, Father's Day, and birthdays;
- Creation of a formula for un/anticipatable events;
- Drop-off and pick-up times and locations;
- Provisions that allow both parents to access the children’s medical records, school records, teachers and activities;
- Provisions that allow both parents the right and ability to make emergency medical decisions;
- Provisions providing for child support (i.e. what is covered by the payments, when payments needs to be made, how they are to be made, what happens if a payment is delinquent, etc.);
- Provisions for who gets any available tax deductions;
- Provisions ensuring that the paying party has adequate life insurance to cover support obligations in case of death;
- Provisions designating the parent responsible for costs associated with the children's ongoing medical and dental insurance and related expenses;
- Provisions for childcare, education and extra-curricular activity expenses;
- Travel details and expenses when parents live far from each other;
- Any restrictions on domestic or international travel;
- A set of rules for dealing with changes like special events or unanticipated business travel;
- A system that gives the other parent sufficient notice when long-term plans, address, telephone number or employment changes;
- Notice provisions for school activities, events and conferences;
- Provisions for how notice will be given of new childcare providers, childre's location during visitation and new relationships or people present during time with children;
- Provisions that address moving the children to different states;
- Provisions addressing elective medical/dental procedures like orthodontics;
- Provisions impacting employment loss or disability;
- Provisions address a method and timeline for child support review;
- Provisions addressing college selection and expenses; and
- Provisions adjusting visitation based on children's ages.
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To ensure that you have adequately addressed all appropriate custody issues, review your parenting plan with an experienced family law attorney at The Law Offices of Thomas & Associates.
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Contact us at 877-479-7970, or e-mail us at info@law-thomas.com, to arrange for a confidential complimentary family law consultation.
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Q: What is the legal custody?
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A: Legal custody refers to the authority to make decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare and religion.
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Q: What is physical custody?
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A: A: Physical custody refers to where the child lives and which parent is responsible for the child’s daily care.
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[More]
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 ABA Custody Criteria Report
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The American Bar Association offers this table with current custody criteria for all 50 states.
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US State Department: International Child Abduction
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This Web page is a US Department of State guide for people whose children have been parentally abducted and taken across an international border.
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[More]
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