PARENTING DECISION-MAKING

One of the most contentious issues that arise during a separation or divorce is child-related decisions, including:

Where will the child live?
How much time will each parent spend with the child?
How will parents make major decisions about the child?

Decision-making responsibility is the right to make significant decisions about a child life and well-being. Decision-making responsibility was formerly referred to as ‘custody’.

The parent with decision-making responsibility has the right to make important decisions about:

The child’s education
The child’s medical care
The child’s religion

Decision-making responsibility can be arranged many ways, including:

One parent has sole the decision-making responsibility, and may or may not need to consult the other parent prior to making any major decisions for the child;
Both parents have decision-making responsibility and share the right to make important decisions for the child; or
Each parent is responsible for different areas of decision-making. For example, one parent makes decisions about the child's health and another parent makes decisions about the child's education

We have helped hundreds of clients resolve parenting disputes through parenting plans or litigation.