Creating a Parenting Plan Through Mediation for a Divorce in Idaho

Everyone knows how a lengthy court battle over divorce in Idaho and your child’s custody can drain you emotionally, financially, and socially as well. So if you find yourself in a situation where you are pursuing a separation from your spouse, you can always follow the alternative to legal battles; mediation. Mediation is a process through which two opposing parties go through controlled and mediated dialogue to settle a dispute without going to court.

As an alternative to litigation, mediation provides two parents the choice to develop a comprehensive agreement on how to move forward with co-parenting and raising their child. This includes dividing finances, custody and visitation limits, and decision-making responsibilities about a variety of topics.

With the help of a professional mediator, the end goal is to make decisions keeping your child’s best interests in mind and to ensure peaceful communication to avoid any conflict, which may be easy to aggravate in any situation which involves divorce proceedings. Under the law, mediation can help decide on any matter related to the family members as long as it does not break any laws and is mutually agreed upon.

Advantages of Mediation for a Divorce in Idaho:

Based on the laws and regulations of the State of Idaho, a mediator can give you the following advantages:

• Compared to litigation, mediation is less expensive and takes less time
• The results of mediation remain private and confidential, and this privacy allows for complete control over outcomes
• Mediation is a more peaceful process as compared to a court proceeding, and is also less biased while keeping the family’s core interests in mind
• Mediation allows for the mutual benefit of both parties
• Mediation lays down principles on how to solve future conflicts and allows to help avoid any conflicts that can arise in the more stringent court proceedings.

By profession, a mediator is not a legally binding or absolute authority in terms of its decisions. Rather, it is a neutral party that does not hold any bias against either party involved and provides recommendations based on the best interests of all family members in the case of a divorce in Idaho.

A professional mediator points out legal issues and requirements, presiding controlled and peaceful communication when making decisions. Considering that every family is unique, a mediator ensures that solutions are best suited to the family he or she is working with.

Building a Parenting Plan for Divorce in Idaho:

Family courts across Idaho accept that any agreements that are made with the consent and participation of both parties are more likely to be followed, and that too for a longer time. Hence, a mediator can help in building your parenting plan, with the following common elements:

• Your Child’s Contact with Each Parent:

Your parenting plan helps decide how much time your child will spend with each parent, and the more specific this is the better. Usually, the child’s activities are divided based on their school routines, distances between the parents and their residences, the job and work timings of each parent, etc. In legal terms, each parent is referred to as a ‘primary residential parent’ which points to the parent who lives with the child, and the ‘custodial parent’ who may have complete or partial custody of their child.

Additionally, parents should also consider where the child will spend holidays and summer vacations; what rules to follow on overnight stays and extended visits; and emergency plans. Parents must also keep in mind that these plans are likely to change as the child grows older.

• Your Child’s Education:

The parenting plan must decide on some key elements of your child’s education, both at the primary level up to higher education. Major decisions include where the child will go to school, and how each parent will contribute to school fees and educational expenses. Additionally, each parent’s access to school information and parent-teacher meetings should also be discussed, along with other decisions on changing schools, school events, tutoring, and special classes, etc.

• Childcare:

Another primary concern of parenting plans is childcare, which details both the physical activities and the financial aspect of raising a child. Based on the employment and assets of each parent, and their relationship with the child, childcare terms decide on most other major elements such as who the child will live with and who will fund their living, education, basic needs, and expenses.

Build Your Parenting Plan:

A good parenting plan goes further in making the right decisions for your child, and in resolving any disputes that may arise with your ex-spouse in the future. For the child, their own choices regarding communication, emergencies, and changes to the parenting plan must also be considered. To ensure that your family’s best interests are maintained, contact Boise Family Law for professional mediators that are experienced in cases of divorce in Idaho.