How to Write a Child Custody Agreement

Around 25% of parents living with at least one child are single parents. Parenting alone is common, but it’s also challenging. 

However, if your kids have another parent, you should aim to co-parent your children. If you want to do this, you’ll need to draft a child custody agreement.

This agreement is helpful for married couples who are divorcing or unmarried couples who decide to split up. But how do you create this agreement?

Here is a guide explaining how to draft a successful child custody agreement when needed.

Start With Custody

During your child custody case, you must decide which parent gets physical custody of the child. Once you know this, include it in your agreement.

You should clearly state which parent has physical custody. However, you should also state which parent has legal custody. The same parent has both types in most cases, but this can vary. 

Your agreement might also be a shared form of custody. If so, write that on the child custody agreement.

Add Visitation Schedule

A child custody agreement is a co-parenting agreement. Therefore, it states both parents’ rights and responsibilities. As a result, your agreement should include a visitation schedule. 

For example, when will the parent without physical custody have visitation with the children? Many parents agree to every weekend visits or every other.

You should also include a vacation and holiday schedule to eliminate confusion when vacations, holidays, and special events occur. 

As you write the visitation schedule, you might also consider rides. For example, will your children need rides to and from school, sporting events, or practices?

It might be helpful to agree on these things and put them in writing. 

Include the Necessary Provisions

You and the other parent can agree to rules about raising your child. The court calls these provisions, and you should list them in the agreement.

For example, you can write about how both parents handle dental work for the children. You might also write about how to handle cell phones or car insurance when the children reach a specific age.

State Child Support Arrangements

In most cases, the non-custodial parent pays child support to the custodial parent. You can work this out with your child custody lawyer before writing the agreement, but you should state the terms in the document.

You might also state when you agree to modify the child support arrangement. 

Hire a Law Firm to Create It

You can write this agreement yourself. However, there is a better route. You can hire a lawyer to handle it. 

Hiring a lawyer to do it ensures that you include every vital detail. It also ensures you write it in a legally proper way. You can contact these family law attorneys if you have questions.  

Why a Child Custody Agreement Is Vital

You need a child custody agreement if you share children with another parent. Having this agreement guides both parents and reduces the challenges, problems, and questions. 

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