Building a Parenting Agreement That Works: Child Custody Agreements Step by Step

by Mimi Lyster Zemmelman Ph.D

Overview

Avoid child custody battles and save money, time, and grief

Working out a fair and realistic custody agreement is often crucial in protecting children’s best interests, but it may seem impossible for divorcing parents. That’s where Building a Parenting Agreement That Works comes in. This comprehensive guide will show you how to overcome all kinds of obstacles and build a win-win custody agreement that allows everyone—especially your children—to thrive.

Find out how to:

• minimize conflict, even in tense situations
• create a workable agreement together, and
• modify or renegotiate an existing agreement.

Take advantage of practical solutions and sample language to resolve important issues like:

• health care, education, and religion
• living arrangements and moving
• new partners and surnames
• holidays, travel, and grandparent visits
• different approaches to discipline, and
• alcohol and drug use.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413325560
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	09/30/2018
Edition description:	Ninth Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Mimi Lyster Zemmelman has been active in dispute resolution and other facilitated decision-making processes for 25 years. She brings experiences as a mediator, trainer, facilitator, strategic planner, and court policy analyst to her work with families, businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations. Zemmelman has co-founded a community mediation program, served on the California Dispute Resolution Council, the State Bar's Committee and was appointed to the 2020 California Court futures Commission.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part I: Getting Started 1. Taking Stock of Your Situation 2. An Introduction to Parenting Agreements 3. Getting Organized 4. How to Negotiate a Parenting Agreement Part II: Your Parenting Agreement 5. Building Your Agreement 6. Basic Elements 7. More Parenting Issues 8. Serious Situations 9. Special Challenges Part III: Beyond Your Parenting Agreement 10. Child Support, Alimony, and Jointly Owned Property 11. Making Mediation and Arbitration Work for You 12. Making Changes 13. Understanding Your Children’s Needs 14. Multiracial, Multicultural, and International Families 15. Nontraditional Families 16. State and Federal Laws Affecting Child Custody 17. Help Beyond the Book Appendix A:Interactive Forms Appendix B: Forms Index

Editorial Reviews

The author draws on her experience as a professional mediator to give real-life solutions to some of the most common custody issues.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

"Zemmelman, who works with parents and others to come to mutually beneficial agreements, offers a guide that helps separating or divorcing parents (married or unmarried) work out a child custody agreement. She addresses how to take stock of the situation, get organized, and negotiate an agreement; build the agreement, its basic elements, parenting issues to address, serious situations like domestic violence and alcohol or drug abuse, and special challenges like moving, military service, and when homes are far apart; and aspects beyond the agreement, including child support, alimony, held property, mediation and arbitration, making changes, understanding the child's needs, multiracial, multicultural, international, and nontraditional families, and state and federal laws affecting child custody. A sample agreement is included." Eithne O'Leyne, Editor Ringgold, Inc. ProtoView

“A step-by-step guide meant to help even the most hostile couples work out terms for raising their children after the family splits.” Newsday

From the Publisher