Parenting Plans and Time-Sharing

Can I Change or Modify My Parenting Plan?

As children grow, their needs and desires change; an amendment or modification of your parenting plan may be warranted. The good news is that parenting plans are easily modifiable if both parties agree to the changes. It is always an excellent strategy to discuss these issues with the other parent before commencing litigation. To modify a parenting plan, there must be a substantial change in circumstances and a determination that the modification is in the best interests of the child. You should contact an attorney to assist with such modifications or amendments because they must be submitted to and adopted by the court for the new parenting plan to be in effect and enforceable.

We can confer with the other parent or their counsel to make changes or replace the prior agreement with a new parenting plan. We would consult with you about the changes and exchange drafts of a new agreement with the other parent or their counsel until a final agreement memorializing the final terms of the parenting plan is reached. Both parties then sign the new agreement, and then it is filed with the court, and the Judge enters an order adopting the new parenting plan. By filing the new amendment or plan, you are protecting yourself from a potential claim by the other parent that the changes were never made or a new plan never existed.

What If the Other Parent Won’t Agree to Change the Parenting Plan?

If the other parent refuses to modify or amend the parenting plan, you can seek court intervention. You will have to file a petition to modify the parenting plan or final judgment and specify the changes you desire. The petition must contain a short and plain statement about the substantial change in circumstances that required the requested changes. The petition needs to be served upon the other party for the litigation to commence.

The court will hold an evidentiary hearing, or trial, for both parties to present their case. At the hearing, the judge will decide whether there has been a substantial and material change of circumstances since the entry of the last judgment or order establishing time-sharing and parental responsibility and that the modification is in the best interests of the child. This means that the change of circumstances must be permanent and all factors affecting the welfare and interests of the child will be considered.

It is crucial to prepare for the hearing. You will have to present the testimony of witnesses and evidence supporting your petition. It is recommended to have an attorney to assist with hearing preparation and representation at the hearing, although it is not required by law. Such preparation may include calling witnesses, such as relatives, school teachers, physicians, and other people who have knowledge about the facts alleged in the petition. It may also include gathering documents like report cards, photographs, medical records, or other helpful documents involving the child.

If you prevail at the hearing, the judge will provide a date upon which the new parenting plan or amendment goes into effect, and both parties will have to abide by the revised plan after this date. If the court denies your petition, it is difficult to challenge the ruling unless there are grounds for an appeal or another substantial and material change in circumstances arises. You should consult with an attorney if you are seeking to modify a parenting plan or appeal any denial of your petition to modify a parenting plan or final judgment.

What If the Other Parent Refuses to Honor the Parenting Plan or Hasn’t Been Complying With the Parenting Plan?

In addition to changing a parenting plan, you can also seek to enforce the parenting plan if the other parent does not follow the plan. When one party refuses to follow a court order, that party can be held in contempt – civil or criminal. Contempt is a term that means the refusal to obey a court order. Civil contempt is when a party is able but unwilling to comply with the court’s order. Civil contempt is when the court must determine that the order was clear and that the party had the ability to comply and willfully refused to do so. It is designed to encourage the other party to comply with the court’s order, whereas criminal contempt is intended to punish the non-compliant party. Both types of contempt are punishable by fines, and/or imprisonment, and other types of sanctions. Civil contempt is typically sought in family cases.

You can file a motion for civil contempt and enforcement of the parenting plan. As with modification proceedings, a hearing is also set on the motion for contempt and enforcement. Certain procedural rules must be followed before a court can find someone in contempt, and proper evidence must be presented at the hearing. It is wise to retain an experienced attorney to assist you with such hearing to invoke the court’s contempt powers and coerce the other parent to comply with the parenting plan.

In addition to contempt, the court has other remedies when a parent refuses to honor the parenting plan. If a party does not honor the court-ordered parenting plan, the court may calculate the amount of time-sharing that was denied to the compliant party and award that party extra time-sharing to compensate. The makeup time-sharing will be scheduled in accordance with the best interests of the child, in a manner that is convenient for the compliant party, and at the expense of the noncompliant party. The court may also order the noncompliant party to pay reasonable court costs and attorney’s fees incurred by the compliant party to enforce the time-sharing schedule. The court has authority to order the noncompliant party to attend a parenting course, perform community service, take on more of the shared financial burden, or any other reasonable sanction as a result of noncompliance. Non-compliance with a parenting plan may also be a basis to seek modification to your parenting plan.

If you are seeking to change your parenting plan or wish to enforce the parenting plan against a noncompliant party, please contact us for assistance.