Nearly 750,000 couples throughout the United States became divorced in 2019. 2.7 divorces occur for every 1,000 people. Having a child with special needs can make divorce even harder. Whether or not your divorce is amicable, a printable parenting plan template (SEE BELOW!) that lets you create a well-detailed parenting plan can help. But what is a co-parenting agreement plan? What should your plan describe? How should you write about your child in your plan? Answer these questions and you can create a path forward after your marital separation. Here is your quick guide.
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You should decide if one co-parent contributes to the other’s expenses while the other parent has physical custody. One parent can help the other pay for a vacation or a gift. But this is optional. If you budget your expenses, include a copy of your budget in your parenting plan. Transparency can help the judge and your co-parent understand how you spend your money.
Legal custody is a parent’s right to make decisions for their child. A judge may grant a parent physical custody or visitation rights. But they may impose limits on their legal custody. The co-parenting agreement parenting plan should have information about legal custody. Most co-parents have legal rights over their child while their child is with them. A child with special needs may need occupational therapy or a special education plan. Your plan should indicate what you will do when you and your co-parent disagree about medical care or education.
When it comes to parenting a child with special needs, using rewards can be really effective in encouraging them to keep going, even when they’re faced with a difficult task. And the best part is that rewards can work no matter which parent’s house the child is at.
Many children with special needs have essential routines. A child with autism spectrum disorder may resist attempts to adjust their routines. Talk about what your child needs to do to complete tasks like finishing their homework. If your child has a schedule for their tasks, you should include that schedule in your plan. Provide some parenting advice so a guardian knows how to help your child. They may need to speak in a soft tone so your child does not become scared.
You can use a template to provide details on all of these topics. Keep in mind that a template does not carry legal weight. You still need to run your plan by lawyers and a custody judge.
Adhere to your printable co-parenting agreement as much as possible. It is okay to make small deviations from it, but don’t go against its basic terms. Stay in touch with your co-parent as much as possible. You can use apps like Goally to keep track of your child’s routines and send updates to your co-parent. Both of you should have access to the apps so you can make edits on the fly.
Goally’s skill building tablet for kids has routines that break down large tasks into small, achievable steps. It helps kids complete their tasks independently!
Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step. The steps come in small, bite-sized pieces to help your child learn the little fundamentals (like putting the toothpaste on their toothbrush!) to achieve bigger goals. And that’s just the beginning. See it in action:
A co-parenting agreement plan helps you figure out how you will raise your child with special needs. You should provide many different details, including how you will cover your child’s expenses. The more detailed you are, the better your plan will be. Describe your child’s medical conditions and explain how you help mitigate their symptoms. You can use a printable parenting p lan template. But make sure you run your plan by your lawyer before you sign off of it. Get the tools you need for great co-parenting – try Goally.
What is a co-parenting agreement? A co-parenting agreement is a document that outlines the terms of how two parents will work together to raise their child or children after a separation or divorce. Why is a co-parenting agreement important for parents of children with special needs? A co-parenting agreement is especially important for parents of children with special needs because it can help ensure that the child's unique needs are being met consistently and that both parents are on the same page about how to provide the best possible care. What should be included in a co-parenting agreement template for special needs children? A co-parenting agreement template for special needs children should include specific provisions related to the child's medical care, therapy, education, and other specialized needs. It should also outline how the parents will communicate and make decisions about the child's care. Can I find a printable co-parenting agreement template online? Yes, there are many printable co-parenting agreement templates available online that you can use as a starting point. However, it's important to customize the template to fit your specific situation and the needs of your child. What are some best practices for creating a co-parenting agreement for special needs children? Some best practices for creating a co-parenting agreement for special needs children include working with a family law attorney who has experience in this area, being open to compromise and flexibility, and making sure that the agreement is clear, specific, and enforceable.
This post was originally published on 02/14/2023. It was updated on 10/13/2023.
