A divorce decree or custody order will outline the parameters for parties to jointly raise their children, including:
- Who has legal custody: Who has the authority to make major decisions on behalf of the children? The order will outline the role each parent has in making important decisions on behalf of the children, such as their educational paths and religious upbringing.
- Who has physical custody: Where will the children live?
- Parenting Time: When does each parent have the children in their care? Parenting time arrangements may include transportation, holidays, school vacations and other similar issues.
- Expenses: The order will outline the responsibilities each parent has when it comes to paying expenses involved with raising children, such as education, medical care, insurance and child care.
- Relocation: If one parent wishes to move to a different part of the city or a different city altogether, the order may contain procedures on how the parties should address potential moves. In Minnesota, most attempts to relocate out-of-state will default to the statutory requirement that the parties must agree to the move or have a court order allowing an out-of-state move.
- Communication: Custody orders often outline how parents should communicate with each other about everyday issues and emergency situations. This could include minor changes to pickup/drop-off plans and visitation schedules.
- Conflict resolution: The order directs how parents should resolve disputes. Generally, parties must attempt mediation before bringing an issue back to the court.
For more information and guidance on what’s included in a standard child custody arrangement, contact a dedicated Minnesota family law attorneys with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.