Divorce Can Be Hard on a Child
Divorce or legal separation can be devastating to a child. With 20 years of experience practicing family law, attorney Mike Ditchik has first-hand knowledge of how important two parents are in a child's life. At the Law Office of Michael Ditchik, we assist parents in working out a custody arrangement and parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child.
Attorney Michael Ditchik represents married and unmarried mothers and fathers, including parents of children of domestic partnerships.
To speak with an established family law attorney about child custody and visitation issues, call the Law Office of Michael Ditchik in Kent, Washington, at 1-888-544-1259 or contact him online. Mr. Ditchik can answer your questions and create a practical parenting plan for your family.
What is Joint Custody?
The state of Washington no longer uses the term "custody." In establishing the roles of both parents, we refer to the term "primary residential parent," as opposed to "custodial parent." "Sole" or "joint" decision making are also terms which are used in the applicable statute. "Joint custody" is a colloquialism which is often used to describe a shared residential parenting plan. Parenting plans which afford roughly equal time with each parent are highly disfavored in Washington. With respect to the "decision making" aspect of parenting plans, a parent can be denied joint decision making if domestic violence, criminal behavior, alcohol abuse or other harmful circumstances are present.
What is a Parenting Plan?
Every divorce case involving a child in Washington must include a parenting plan. This plan acts as a set of rules that aims to prevent and resolve disputes between parents. The plan allocates decision-making authority, states who the child will live with the majority of the time and outlines visitation rights.* Several factors are considered by the court in the formulation of a parenting plan:
- The nature and stability of a child's relationship with both parents
- Any agreements of the parents
- Historical parenting abilities
- The ability to parent in the future
- The emotional needs and developmental level of the child
- The child's relationships with siblings and other family members
- The wishes of the child if he or she is old enough to express a reasoned preference
- The parents' employment schedules
* Shared residential schedules (week-on/week-off) are not favored for children in the state of Washington. Therefore, most parenting plans establish a primary residential parent and a non-primary residential parent.
Contact an experienced lawyer about your family matters — Call 1-888-544-1259.
