Minnesota Child Custody Attorney

Common Provisions Added in Custody Agreements

When parties reach an agreement on custody and parenting time, there are often other provisions added into the agreement that would not otherwise be there if the court decided the issue. These provisions further dictate the terms of the child custody agreement. When it comes to a standard child custody agreement, provisions are needed to accurately account for all aspects of a child's interaction with his or her separated parents. If you would like to know more about common provisions added to a custody agreement, speak to a Minnesota divorce lawyer today.

Common Provisions

Below are a few common provisions:

Right of first refusal: The right of first refusal means that if the parent "on duty" is unable to care for th e children for a period of time, the other parent has the first opportunity to say they will care for the children. This allows the off-duty parent to spend more meaningful time with the children rather than the children being cared for by a babysitter or other family members.
Vacation time: If the parents want to take extended vacation time with the children uninterrupted by the parenting time of the other parent, they need to agree on a vacation provision. Often parents will agree to anywhere between one and three weeks during the summer or school breaks.
Telephone/Email/Skype contact: Parents are able to set parameters for contact from the other parent during his or her parenting time . Some parents prefer to allow unfettered access to the children, whereas others prefer to have a smaller block of time (generally a couple hours in the evening) where the parent may call.
Extracurricular expenses: Extracurricular expenses are often more than the custodial parent can handle alone. Both parents need to agree as to how these expenses should be divided, whether it is by their percentage of income, shared completely, or if one parent will pay all expenses in exchange for something else.
Mediation: When problems arise in the future, there is often a provision added to the agreement that the parents will try to work out the problem before going to court.

At Heimerl & Lammers, we will assist you throughout the child custody provisions process. Protecting the rights and future of your children is our focus and concern. Call our firm today to get the experienced legal representation you need in any matter involving child custody.

Contact a Minnesota child custody attorney to learn more about the common provisions added to a child custody agreement.