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How should you go about drafting a parenting plan when you have a special needs child?
While many challenges come with a couple going their separate ways, there’s unlikely nothing that compares to the ones you may face as you attempt to co-parent with your ex.
There’s an extra layer of complexity associated with raising a special needs child. Keeping that in mind as you work out the best way you and your ex can share custody of your special needs child.
Details to keep in mind when sharing custody of a special needs child
Kids with special needs must generally follow a routine and thus need more structure in their lives. They may also require more hands-on care or have particular nutritional or medication administration needs than an average child.
It’s not uncommon for at least one parent to quit their job to become their special needs child’s full-time caregiver. All these factors will impact any custody arrangement and support agreement that you and your ex make and often gives way to one parent retaining sole physical custody of the child.
Your special needs child’s attendance at school or doctors’ visits may also impact the custodial arrangements you and your ex make. Having a set custodial schedule the requires frequent exchanges with your ex may not be ideal if your child might miss doctors’ appointments. Similarly, standard custodial arrangements may not work for your special needs child if they rely on specialized transportation to get to a doctor’s office or school.
Special needs children often rely on specialized medical equipment to maintain their health. It may be too costly to purchase duplicates of every item they need or too bulky to easily transport from one parent’s home to the next, making regular trade-offs impossible.
All of these issues have to be factored into your parenting plan, while still remembering the importance of preserving the parental relationship on both sides.
Coming up with a parenting plan that works for your family
Your role as a parent doesn’t generally end when your child turns 18, and that’s even more true when you have a special needs child here in Georgia. An attorney in Macon can help you negotiate a parenting plan with your ex that’s in the best interest of your special needs child.