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Portland Parenting Plan Attorney

Historically, it was believed that a child should always be primarily with one parent, and the other parent, no matter how skilled, would have “visitation.” Current research in the social sciences has discredited this position. It is now the court’s policy that a child should have frequent and continuing contact with fit parents who have the ability to act in the child’s best interests and welfare. A parent’s contact with a child is called “parenting time,” and the schedule is now referred to as a “parenting plan” rather than visitation.

We can help with your parenting plan or visitation issues. Call The Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman at 503-223-8441 or Contact Us for a free parenting time consultation.

At The Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman, we have been drafting effective parenting time plans for our clients in Oregon, Washington and California for more than 35 years. We can also assist you and your family in modifying your parenting plan to fit a change in circumstances and your family’s current needs.

Paul F. Sherman Is A Skilled And Effective Parenting Time Attorney

A formal parenting plan is required in every proceeding where there is a determination of child custody, including divorce, legal separation and paternity judgments. Parenting time may also be modified at anytime provided it is in the best interests of the child.

Each jurisdiction has adopted its own set of guidelines that provide an outline for the minimum amount of visitation for the noncustodial parent. Parents who are intimately involved in their children’s lives should be awarded substantial parenting time.

There are many varieties of parenting plans available to parents. For parents who are able to cooperate and share custody of the children, a one-week-on, one-week-off schedule is often used. Other parents use what is referred to as a “2/2/3” parenting time schedule, which provides equal weekday contact and alternate three-day weekends. View our blog or the Oregon Legal Guide for a thorough discussion of various parenting time options.

A formal parenting plan is necessary to avoid conflict and create certainty regarding the child’s schedule. A detailed parenting plan contains provisions to allocate overnights, weekdays, weekends, holidays, school vacations, in service days, and summer time vacation. Additional provisions should be included with regards to transportation, telephone contact, and e-mail contact between the parents and child.

The amount of detail necessary in the parenting plan is usually dictated by the ability of the parties to agree and cooperate on parenting time issues. The parenting plan should also allow the parties to make arrangements “as agreed” by both parties. Flexibility is important in child parenting arrangements and avoids unnecessary court intervention and conflict. Parenting plans should be tailored to the child’s and parent’s needs and any other special requirements such as work schedules, sports and school activities.

Contact Paul F. Sherman For Expert Advice On Your Parenting Time Plan And Get The Results You And Your Family Deserve

Paul F. Sherman has substantial experience in drafting workable parenting plans.  Our office will work with you to develop a parenting plan that is the best fit for you and your family.  We can also assist you in modifying a parenting plan to reflect changes in the needs of your child and changes in circumstances.  Modifications of parenting plans are almost always necessary in the case of a relocation.

Modification of parenting plans are also necessary when one parent is suffering from severe alcohol or drug addiction, or other emotional instability, depression issues such as bipolar disorder, which impact their ability to act as a fit parent.

We know you have questions and we have answers. If you would like more information about parenting plans and child visitation, contact The Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman at 503-223-8441 or Contact Us for a free parenting time consultation.