The Purpose of a Separation Agreement in DC
When you and your spouse make the decision to separate and/or divorce in DC, if you have children, their welfare is one of your major concerns.
If you choose to resolve things amicably, hopefully, this will lead to a negotiated DC Separation Agreement. You can tailor specific provisions in your Agreement to determine custody and separate access schedules so that both you and your spouse will have regular access/visitation time with your children.
Moving forward and getting beyond the difficulties and resentments between you and your spouse so you can focus on the best interests of your children can be very emotionally challenging.
A section of your DC Separation Agreement will focus on a custody and access schedule for your time and your spouse’s time with your children.
A Parenting Plan can be drafted which addresses issues such as the residence of your children; holiday, birthday, and other special occasion schedules; access to school records, medical records, and other important records for your children; communication between you and your spouse as it relates to the children; communication between you and your children when they are with your spouse; decision-making; methods for resolving disagreements that may arise between you and your spouse in the future about the children, etc.
These are just a few of the issues that can be dealt with in the parenting plan portion of your Property Settlement Agreement and Separation Agreement in DC.
If you and your spouse are able to arrive at an agreement on these issues, the provisions you decide to have in your DC Separation Agreement will help you navigate time with your children as your children age and their needs change.
The best interests of your children remains the most important concern and any agreement should be drafted with this in mind.
It is always best to seek the advice of a DC divorce lawyer who is experienced in working with these issues. You will have your questions answered and a creative solution for your unique situation will be the result.