Divorce naturally splits up families in Tennessee necessitating a child custody agreement. This agreement stipulates the visitation and living arrangements for the child or children. There is more than one available option for divorcing parents to create an arrangement that works best for their families.
According to CustodyXchange.com, there are two types of custody in the state: legal and physical. Legal custody involves having the right to know about important information regarding the child such as religious upbringing, educational details and medical care. The actual amount of time a child spends with their respective parent falls under physical custody. A parent who is not the custodial parent has a visitation schedule to see their child.
Both types of custody agreements can be either sole or joint, where parents share the rights. While physical custody agreements are the most discussed form, most parents opt to have joint legal custody. This means that while the parents may have a visitation schedule in place to see their child, they can still provide consent for where the child goes to school.
The Tennessee Courts provide parenting plan forms for parents to fill out and file. These agreements can change over time past the divorce filing. By using their forms, parents do not need to worry about complicated legal jargon. The point of a parenting plan is to reduce conflict and preserve relationships.
Keeping the focus on the child’s welfare can help parents create a plan that suits their family situation. As that situation changes, a new plan can go into place with court approval.