Distance can be a challenge in any relationship. If you are facing a long-distance divorce, understanding how to navigate how child custody will work is crucial. When one parent moves away from the other, they will need to establish a long-distance custody agreement. Please continue reading for tips on handling the logistics of long-distance parenting and how our Monmouth County Child Custody Attorneys can help create a solid parenting plan.
How is Custody Determined in a Long-Distance Divorce?
In a long-distance divorce, child custody usually means one parent has physical custody of the child where they reside, while the other parent has visitation rights that often involve extended periods during school breaks, like summer, holidays, and potentially some weekends. In other words, when parents live far from each other, the child lives with one and visits the other.
Essentially, long-distance parenting plans cover everything a standard plan does but also add provisions related to travel, communication methods, and financial responsibility for visitation periods. The goal of a long-distance custody schedule is to maintain a meaningful relationship with the child despite the distance.
The age of your child will play a role in the length and frequency of long-distance visitation. For instance, it can be incredibly difficult for a two-year-old to go on a plane and spend thirty-five days away from their primary caregiver. As such, you should include different custody arrangements for your child that reflect their age and maturity.
In addition, you need to take travel expenses into account. Depending on how far away you live from your ex, it can be incredibly expensive for you to transport your child back and forth. It’s important to understand that you don’t have to agree to share transportation expenses. If you cannot reach an agreement, a judge will intervene and settle the issues for you.
Finally, a long-distance visitation schedule allows the distanced parent to visit the child several times a year. As such, you need to consider your child’s school calendar. It’s important to ensure that the visitation schedule with the non-custodial parent doesn’t interfere with the child’s education.
How Can My Ex & I Co-Parent Effectively?
When it comes to a long-distance divorce, cooperation between parents is key. You should maintain open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to compromise to create a harmonious co-parenting relationship. While consistency is important, you should allow for some flexibility. Travel delays, schedule changes, or unexpected events may warrant modifications to the visitation plan. Parents must be willing to adapt when necessary to find alternative solutions. Nevertheless, it’s important to always keep your child’s best interests at the forefront of any decisions you make regarding visitation and custody.
At Paone Zaleski & Muprhy, we understand that navigating this situation on your own can be tough. As such, our legal team is prepared to offer various resources to help you through these complex issues. We will work to help your family receive the best possible outcome given the unique circumstances of your case. Connect with our firm today to learn more about what we can do for you.
