Building a parenting agreement that works How to put your kids first when your marriage doesn't last
Book - 2005
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Berkeley, CA :
Nolo
2005-
- Language
- English
- Other Authors
- Item Description
- Subtitle varies.
- Physical Description
- volumes : illustrations ; 28 cm
- Publication Frequency
- Irregular
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN
- 9781413330113
- Introduction
- Make Your Own Custody Decisions If Possible
- What If We Need Outside Help?
- Balancing Parenting and Financial Issues
- Why This Book Is Unique
- A Word to Skeptics
- What If You Just Want to Fight?
- Part I. Getting Started
- 1. Taking Stock of Your Situation
- You Are Not Alone
- Keep Your Parenting Plan Focused on Your Children
- It Gets Easier Over Time
- Learn How to Negotiate
- If the Other Parent Is Absent
- If There Is Violence or Abuse
- Looking Ahead: The Right Solution?
- 2. An Introduction to Parenting Agreements
- What Parenting Agreements Cover
- Advantages of Parent-Negotiated Agreements
- Goals of a Successful Parenting Agreement
- Parenting Agreements and Custody
- 3. Getting Organized
- Organize and Review Documents
- Completing the Worksheets
- Sample Worksheets
- 4. How to Negotiate a Parenting Agreement
- Knowing What You Need and Want
- When Conflict Gets in the Way
- Using Effective Negotiation and Problem-Solving Strategies
- Breaking Through Impasses
- Knowing Where to Get Help and Support
- Part II. Your Parenting Agreement
- 5. Building Your Agreement
- Where to Begin
- Cooperate! Cooperate! Cooperate!
- Get Outside Help
- Keep Your Agreement Current
- 6. Basic Elements
- Issue 1. Where Our Children Will Live
- Issue 2. Medical, Dental, and Vision Care
- Issue 3. Negative Comments or Remarks
- Issue 4. Consistency in Raising Children
- Issue 5. Holidays
- Issue 6. Education
- Issue 7. Insurance
- Issue 8. Making Decisions
- Issue 9. Resolving Disputes
- Issue 10. Labeling the Custody Arrangement
- 7. More Parenting Issues
- Issue 11. Exchanging Information
- Issue 12. Child Care
- Issue 13. Special Occasions and Family Events
- Issue 14. Vacations
- Issue 15. Outside Activities
- Issue 16. Transportation Between Parents' Homes
- Issue 17. Improving Transition Times
- Issue 18. Maintaining Contact
- Issue 19. Grandparents, Relatives, and Important Friends
- Issue 20. Psychiatric and Other Mental Health Care
- Issue 21. Religious Training
- Issue 22. Surname
- Issue 23. Treating Each Child as an Individual
- Issue 24. Separating the Adult Relationship Issues From the Parenting Issues
- Issue 25. Making Routine Changes
- Issue 26. Making Big Changes
- Issue 27. Explaining the Agreement to Your Children
- 8. Serious Situations
- Issue 28. Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Child Neglect
- Issue 29. Alcohol or Drug Abuse
- Issue 30. Undermining the Parent-Child Relationship
- Issue 31. Denying Access to the Children
- Issue 32. If Extended Family Members or Close Friends Are Fueling the Dispute
- 9. Special Challenges
- Issue 33. Moving
- Issue 34. When Parenting Styles and Values Differ
- Issue 35. When a Parent Needs Help With Parenting Skills
- Issue 36. When Parents Have New Partners
- Issue 37. If Our Homes Are Far Apart
- Issue 38. Roommates
- Issue 39. Reinvolving a Parent Who Has Been Absent
- Issue 40. Driving and Owning a Car, Motorcycle, or Off-Road Vehicle
- Issue 41. International Travel and Passports
- Issue 42. Military Service
- Issue 43. Allowing Underage Marriage
- Issue 44. Pandemics and Other Emergencies
- Part III. Beyond Your Parenting Agreement
- 10. Child Support Alimony, and Jointly Held Property
- Understanding Child Support
- Understanding Alimony or Spousal Support
- Negotiating Child and Spousal Support
- Dividing Jointly Owned Property
- 11. Making Mediation and Arbitration Work for You
- How Mediation Works
- Why Mediation Works
- Proposing Mediation
- Understanding Basic Mediation Techniques
- Why Mediation Works in Very Difficult Cases
- What Mediators Don't Do
- Choosing Between Court-Ordered and Private Mediation
- When the Mediator Makes a Recommendation to the Court
- Custody Investigations and Evaluations
- Choosing a Mediator
- Preparing for Mediation
- If You Can't Reach an Agreement
- Alternatives to Mediation
- 12. Making Changes
- Why Changes Are Necessary-And How to Handle Them
- When You Are the One Initiating Change
- When You Are the One Responding to a Request for Change
- When Tensions Are Running High
- What to Do After You Negotiate Changes
- Adopt a Positive Outlook
- 13. Understanding Your Children's Needs
- Strategies for Your Children at Any Age
- Strategies for Your Children at Different Ages and Developmental Stages
- Strategies for Children With Special Needs
- 14. Multiracial, Multicultural, and International Families
- Accommodating Differences in Child-Rearing Practices
- Encouraging Children to Celebrate the Traditions of Both Parents
- Sorting Out the Role of Power Within the Family
- Working Within the American Legal System
- Deciding Whether Another Country Has Authority Over Parenting (Custody) Issues
- 15. Nontraditional Families
- What Are Nontraditional Families?
- The Legal Relationship of Nontraditional Parents and Children
- Recognizing the Nontraditional Parent's Role
- Resolving Conflict in a Way That Meets Your Family's Needs
- Creating New Relationships After the Divorce or Separation
- 16. State and Federal Laws Affecting Child Custody
- Custody and Visitation
- Best Interests of the Child
- Mediation
- Interference With Custody
- Interstate Custody and Child Support Disputes
- International Custody Disputes
- Custody and the IRS
- 17. Help Beyond the Book
- Researching Legal Issues
- Researching Nonlegal Issues
- Research on the Internet
- Finding Professionals Who Can Help
- Additional Resources
- Appendixes
- A. How to Use the Downloadable Forms on the Nolo Website
- Editing RTFs
- List of Forms
- B. Forms
- Worksheet 1. Describe Your Child
- Worksheet 2. Describe Your Relationship With Your Child
- Worksheet 3. Adding the Details
- Worksheet 4. Checklist of Issues for Your Parenting Agreement
- Parenting Agreement
- Index