Parents in Washington involved with the divorce process will want things to remain as normal as possible for their children. One way to attain this goal is to make sure children can enjoy regular visits with the parent who will no longer live in the house with them. For this to happen, there can be no misunderstandings regarding how children will travel to and from visitation with a non-custodial parent.
Family law professionals recommend that visitation transportation become part of the parenting plan or custody agreement crafted by divorcees. This provision will help to prevent confusion on the matter at a later date.
Divorcees should ensure they agree on issues like which parent will transport children to and from visits, the child safety restraints required when children are in a car, who will bear the burden of transportation costs and at what age children are allowed to travel by airplane alone. It will also help for divorcees to develop a predetermined plan of action for what happens when the parent responsible for transportation is running late.
Parents are responsible for deciding where the pick-up and drop-off of children will occur on visitation days. Many divorced couples decide to meet at a public place that is easily accessible to both of them. Others find it easier to make exchanges at their residences. Divorcees typically enjoy flexibility with this option and should settle on a routine that works for both of them.
There are times when parents find that picking up and dropping off children for visitation is filled with more tension than one or both of them can tolerate. Many communities provide neutral drop-off locations that offer a safe alternative for parents when this happens. A lawyer or clerk working at the family court will be able to inform divorcees of neutral drop-off locations that exist in their local communities.
A divorce will bring complications to everyone in the family. One of these challenges is ensuring that children can spend time with their non-custodial parent. A family law attorney may be able to further the cause of an individual facing child custody issues as part of their divorce.