| Picture this: it's the day you go to court for your child | | | | between you and your ex, and figure out the best |
| custody agreement. You walk into the courtroom and | | | | schedule for your kids. Remember that the court is |
| hand the judge and your ex and the lawyer folders. | | | | most interested in accepting an agreement that looks |
| The judge looks inside the folder and sees every | | | | in the best interest of the children. So, don't present an |
| document for the child custody agreement all in order. | | | | agreement that is entirely one-sided. Show that you |
| There is a calendar that is colored coded for the time | | | | have thought through the best scenarios to reach the |
| each parent has with the child. There is a document | | | | best conclusions about where your children should |
| with the time-share percentage calculated on it. There | | | | spend their time. |
| are the documents that give all the stipulations for the | | | | Along with creating the calendar, give some thought to |
| agreement--and you've gone into detail about what is | | | | other stipulations you want to include in the child |
| and isn't appropriate for your child. As everyone looks | | | | custody agreement. Do you want your ex to smoke |
| through your documents there are audible impressive | | | | around the children? If you don't, add that in as a |
| gasps. People like what they see...and do you hear the | | | | stipulation. Do you want your ex to be able to get the |
| smattering of applause? | | | | child a passport without your knowledge? You may |
| Okay, the last part might be a little far fetched. But, | | | | want to include a stipulation about that. There are so |
| every divorced parent wants to impress the judge and | | | | many things to think through--but it looks very |
| the court when they go in and present their child | | | | impressive if you have your agreement thought out in |
| custody agreements. And, even if you aren't going | | | | such detail. You may want to look into purchasing a |
| before a judge, you want to have an agreement to | | | | child custody software that allows you print calendars |
| present to your ex that you can both agree on. | | | | and other court documents. There are even custody |
| Creating the right child custody agreement is absolutely | | | | software programs that allow you to add stipulations |
| vital--this is the document that dictates the time you will | | | | by checking them--then you can print it all out. |
| spend with your child. It also shows how much you will | | | | The more prepared you are, the better off you'll be |
| pay or receive in child support. So, you want to | | | | when it comes time to present your child custody |
| impress everyone with your child visitation agreement | | | | agreement. You'll feel more confident about your |
| so they will agree to it. | | | | plan--and that confidence will help you present in a |
| If you want to impress everyone in the courtroom, the | | | | positive way. If you can print good qualities of all your |
| most important thing you can is to be prepared. Do | | | | documents that helps as well. This way you can walk |
| your homework and invest the time and energy into | | | | into court feeling self assured and ready when you |
| creating a fair calendar. Divide the holidays fairly | | | | hand your documents to everyone in court. |