Questions to Ask During Your Child Custody Mediation

More Americans are turning to mediation for divorce and child custody agreements. This alternative dispute resolution method is less expensive and takes less time compared to litigation.

You must be exhaustive and raise all potential issues and questions for your child's most favorable and comprehensive custody outcome. 

This comprehensive blog will give you a foundation for some questions you should ask when mediating with your ex-partner.

Who Is Going to Get Child Custody?

The first question to address is who will get custody. 

Child custody is divided into two categories: legal and physical custody.

On one hand, legal custody accords a parent with the responsibility to decide on the child’s education, religious beliefs, and medical care. On the other hand, physical custody refers to the parent with whom the child will reside.

That said, you may opt for a sole or joint custody arrangement. Under sole custody, one parent has sole legal and physical custody of the child. This is mostly used when one parent is deemed unfit to live with the child and make parenting decisions.

Alternatively, you may choose joint custody and distribute the responsibilities equally between both parents. Under this arrangement, both parents get a say in matters regarding education, religion, and health care.

 Depending on your arrangement, you should also agree on the visitation schedule.

How Are Holidays and Child Milestones Going to Be Divided?

Depending on the custody arrangement you decide on, you will now have to ask how holidays will be divided. Which holidays will both of you be spending with your child? Who gets to spend time with your child on Christmas this year? How about next year? How about milestones like graduations and birthdays? Map out all the important events and form a schedule you both agree on.

How to Handle Custody Transitions and Travel Expenses?

The process of exchanging custody becomes smoother when both parents have an arrangement. During the mediation, ask and figure out who will drive the child to the pick-up and drop-off locations.

As family lawyer Matthew F. Dolan of Dolan Divorce Lawyers, PLLC says, “If you and your ex-spouse don't get along, you may decide to meet at a neutral place. Otherwise, you can appoint each of your separate homes to be pick-up and drop-off locations.”

How to Handle Disciplining the Child?

You should ask and agree on the approach to be used in disciplining your child. Having an agreement beforehand will ensure that mistakes and indiscipline cases are handled smoothly for the benefit of both the parents and the child.

Who Owes Child Support, and How Much Will It Be?

You will also need to come to an agreement on matters concerning child support. Here, you will both submit evidence of your income and expenditures and work with the mediator to resolve a child support agreement.

You should agree on the amount of money the noncustodial parent will pay and what this money will cover in relation to the child’s expenses, such as medication, education, and extracurricular activities.

Conclusion

Mediation is an excellent and efficient way to handle child custody arrangements in divorce. It allows both parents to agree on matters concerning the child instead of a judge imposing a ruling as per litigation methods. You should work with an experienced mediator with in-depth knowledge of family law.