Create A Joint Custody Plan In Oklahoma With These 5 Steps

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Creating a joint custody plan in Oklahoma can be a challenging but ultimately rewarding process for parents who want to share responsibility for their children's care and well-being. Joint custody, also known as shared custody or co-parenting, allows both parents to have a significant role in their children's lives, even if they are no longer together. In this article, we will guide you through the 5 steps to create a joint custody plan in Oklahoma.

Understanding Joint Custody in Oklahoma

Before we dive into the steps, it's essential to understand the basics of joint custody in Oklahoma. Joint custody is a type of child custody arrangement where both parents share the responsibility of making decisions about their children's lives. In Oklahoma, joint custody can be either joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or both.

Joint legal custody refers to the shared responsibility of making decisions about the children's education, healthcare, and other important issues. Joint physical custody, on the other hand, refers to the shared responsibility of providing a physical home for the children.

Step 1: Determine the Type of Joint Custody

The first step in creating a joint custody plan in Oklahoma is to determine the type of joint custody that works best for your family. You and your ex-partner should discuss and decide whether you want joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or both.

Consider the following factors when making this decision:

• Your work schedules and lifestyles
• The children's ages and needs
• The distance between your homes
• Your ability to communicate and cooperate with each other

Step 2: Create a Co-Parenting Plan

A co-parenting plan is a written document that outlines how you and your ex-partner will share responsibility for your children's care and well-being. This plan should include details about:

• Communication: How will you communicate with each other about the children's needs and schedules?
• Decision-making: How will you make decisions about the children's education, healthcare, and other important issues?
• Scheduling: How will you schedule parenting time, including holidays and vacations?
• Dispute resolution: How will you resolve conflicts and disputes that arise?

Your co-parenting plan should be tailored to your family's unique needs and circumstances.

Step 3: Establish a Parenting Schedule

A parenting schedule outlines the specific times and dates when each parent will have the children. This schedule should be realistic and take into account the children's needs and your work schedules.

Consider the following factors when creating a parenting schedule:

• The children's ages and needs
• Your work schedules and lifestyles
• The distance between your homes
• Holidays and vacations

Your parenting schedule should be flexible and allow for changes as needed.

Step 4: Determine Child Support

Child support is a critical aspect of any joint custody arrangement. In Oklahoma, child support is calculated based on the parents' incomes and the number of children.

Consider the following factors when determining child support:

• Your income and expenses
• Your ex-partner's income and expenses
• The number of children and their needs
• The cost of childcare and education

You and your ex-partner should work together to determine a fair and reasonable child support arrangement.

Step 5: Review and Revise the Joint Custody Plan

Once you have created a joint custody plan, it's essential to review and revise it as needed. Circumstances can change, and your plan should be flexible enough to accommodate these changes.

Consider the following factors when reviewing and revising your joint custody plan:

• Changes in your work schedules or lifestyles
• Changes in the children's needs or circumstances
• Changes in your relationship with your ex-partner

By regularly reviewing and revising your joint custody plan, you can ensure that it remains effective and beneficial for your children.

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FAQs

By following these 5 steps, you can create a joint custody plan in Oklahoma that works best for your family. Remember to review and revise your plan regularly to ensure that it remains effective and beneficial for your children.