Divorced or separated parents may live far away from each other.\u00a0 One parent may also relocate a long distance away after a divorce.\u00a0 An appropriate long-distance parenting plan allows children and the distant parent to maintain regular contact.\u00a0 Creating a long-distance parenting plan requires careful planning and it must account for the unique situation of the family.\u00a0 This can be particularly difficult if visitation has been established after a divorce and must be renegotiated when one parent moves away.<\/p>\n
The parenting plan must be as detailed as possible.\u00a0 Even if the parties get along initially, nobody knows how long that will last and how relationships can change.\u00a0 Flexibility is important, but a party must be able to rely on a formal parenting agreement.\u00a0 Verbal agreements may work initially, but they are subject to misunderstanding and may not be legally binding.\u00a0 For couples who get along well, a parenting plan remains an insurance policy of sorts.\u00a0 A parent may never need to rely on a formal parenting agreement.\u00a0 However, the agreement can help avoid confusion between the parties in the future.<\/p>\n
A long-distance parenting plan establishes regular visitation between the children and the distant parent, often monthly.\u00a0 The plan allows for visitation in the child\u2019s location, the distant parent\u2019s location, a combination of both, or some other mutually agreed upon place.\u00a0 It is important to create a formal agreement.\u00a0 This provides the children with stability and avoids confusion.\u00a0 Reasonable flexibility is always important, of course, however, a regular plan avoids disruption in the children\u2019s normal routine.<\/p>\n
In some cases, regular monthly visits may not be practical.\u00a0 When the distance between the parents\u2019 homes is significant, travel expense may not allow for regular travel between the two homes.\u00a0 In some circumstances, monthly visitation may also be too disruptive to the children\u2019s lives.\u00a0 Long-distance parenting plans usually establish longer visitation during school breaks<\/p>\n
Regular contact may be difficult in some long-distance visitation situations.\u00a0 This can be made up for by extended visitation during holidays and other breaks from school.<\/p>\n
Some plans will provide the non-residential parent with visitation for the majority of the summer break.\u00a0 A plan may also provide extended visitation time during breaks during the school year, such as winter break or spring break.\u00a0 The break periods for schools varies and the children\u2019s school district calendar must be considered when planning long distance visitation.<\/p>\n
Different families consider different holidays important and have different flexibility for the holidays.\u00a0 Important family holidays will be split between the parents.\u00a0 Even in cases of long-distance visitation, each parent should be able to spend at least one significant holiday with the children.<\/p>\n
Longer holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, may provide an opportunity for the distant parent to have time with the children.<\/p>\n
In a long-distance parenting situation, arranging travel for the children will be a constant.\u00a0 The details of travel to see the other parent must be established in the long-distance parenting plan.<\/p>\n
Thorough long-distance parenting plans specify which parent provides transportation when traveling by car.\u00a0 Some plans require the non-residential parent do all of the driving.\u00a0 Other plans divide the driving responsibility between the parents.\u00a0 Often, the easiest plan calls for parents meeting at a mid-way point, such as a restaurant, gas station, or mall.<\/p>\n
Travel expenses incurred by the parties must also be considered and may be included in the parenting plan.<\/p>\n
Long-distance visitation cases may require travel by air.\u00a0 Visitation plans must provide for adult supervision at both the departing and arriving airport.\u00a0 S Ideally, parenting plans account for layovers, as well.\u00a0 If the children are younger, it may be necessary for a parent to accompany them throughout the trip.\u00a0 Older children may be able to fly on their own.\u00a0 However, the visitation plan should consider the age at which the children may travel unaccompanied.\u00a0 The age at which a child may fly unaccompanied varies by airline.\u00a0 Additionally, the maturity of each child must be considered.<\/p>\n
Numerous other issues arise in air travel that require inclusion in the parenting plan. \u00a0Long distance parenting plans commonly consider arrival and departure airports. \u00a0This includes whether the parents alternate responsibility, each takes responsibility for the delivery of the children to the other, or some other agreement. \u00a0The plan should also establish such details as how to purchase tickets, choose airlines, consider alternatives such as the train, etc. \u00a0Consideration of the age of the children may dictate acceptable travel times.<\/p>\n
A long-distance parenting plan often proves for regular communication between the children and the distant parent.\u00a0 This communication can be by telephone or video.\u00a0 Services such as Skype or Facetime allow for face-to-face communication and are increasingly incorporated in long-distance parenting plans.<\/p>\n
The parenting plan must establish a practical, regular schedule for communication.\u00a0 The schedule establishes a routine for the parents and their children.\u00a0 A regular schedule also prevents missed calls. \u00a0Of course, the parent with the children should help the children establish the communication if the children are very young.<\/p>\n
Email, text messages, and other methods of communication also help maintain regular between the distant parent and the children.\u00a0 The parents should be flexible enough to consider new communication options as they become available.<\/p>\n