Child Support Nevada – More Than Just Financial

Children of divorced parents undeniably fare best when parents can communicate well and collaborate. To facilitate this, divorced or separated parents need to create a parenting plan. 

Most people understand that such a plan defines how the parents will share physical child custody, also known as a custody schedule. This includes the day-to-day schedule during the school year and the schedule during the summer break and holiday periods. 

Staying Out Of Reno Family Court With The Parenting Plan

A comprehensive parenting plan includes many other important items: for instance, the parenting plan should identify when and how parents will communicate, when and how a parent and child will communicate during non-custodial periods, and how parents will handle transitions between households. The plan will also include day-to-day decisions such as who makes and attends doctor and dental appointments, who will correspond with teachers and attend parent-teacher meetings, what extracurricular and summer activities the child will participate in, transitioning of items between households, and payment and reimbursement of supplies, clothing and equipment. 

Furthermore, the plan should define when input should be solicited from the other parent, what information must be shared between the parents, how to correspond with teachers, coaches, and healthcare professionals, and guidelines regarding travel.
It is also advised that parents inform the other parent about the routines, rules and expectations in their home, with the goal, if possible, of having some continuity between homes.  

Divorce And Children: Enlisting The Help Of Collaborative Law

Lastly, a parenting plan is meant to evolve as a child matures.  Accordingly, timelines should be identified when the parents will reexamine, and possibly modify, the parenting plan.  

Given the multifaceted nature and complexity of a parenting plan, it is advisable that parents confer with a mental health or family law professional who is well-versed in this arena.  

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Ribnick family mental health / psychologist
Dr. Deborah Ribnick is a licensed psychologist who has had a clinical and forensic practice since 1996. She currently provides psychotherapy services to adolescents, adults, couples and families. She also provides collaborative divorce and divorce mediation services, child custody consultation and parent coordination services following separation or divorce in Nevada. 

If you have questions about how to file for divorce in Nevada, divorce cost or need to find a divorce attorney in Reno, Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals can help make the process easier. To connect with Dr. Ribnick, visit her profile here. 

The children in a couple’s divorce can become the unintended victims of suffering, having the least ability and experience to cope with personal and emotional distress. However, there is a healthier and more effective process that separating parents can use to divorce, where they are always in charge of their own mutually agreed upon resolution. This is called the Collaborative Divorce Process, and it actually has many benefits for children. We will describe the benefits and how they work, along with resources for your child that you as a separating parent can use.There are many benefits to children when their parents use the collaborative divorce and mediation-like process:

  • A healthier way to address your child’s needs: The collaborative divorce method is designed to be non-adversarial, or keep opposition out of the way of peacefully and respectfully settling a divorce. The process allows for the two parties to work together to create mutually beneficial settlements, encouraged by respectful dialogue and a cooperative, problem-solving approach. With this goal in mind, focus can then be placed on the needs of the children and how the parties can provide for those needs post-divorce. This keeps the children out of the middle of the conflict, reducing any added stressors they are already facing due to their parents separating.
  • Reduces conflict: With court-based divorce, the resentful and hostile environment created can have a more negative impact on your children than the divorce itself. With a low-conflict collaborative divorce that takes place in a peaceful environment, your children can actually better adjust to the changes ahead of them. This method allows you and your ex-spouse to resolve your issues together, with a professional attorney and coach there for you on each side.
  • Promotes emotional stability: It can be easy to bring the conflict of a court-room battle home to your children, causing them to lose their ability to cope with the divorçe. Collaborative divorce promotes calm and level-headed discussions that allow you to stay strong emotionally to take better care of your children, and your demonstrated positivity can help them with their own emotional transition.
  • Resolves financial issues: Collaborative divorce is more economical in many ways, giving you the opportunity to fairly divide your assets to benefit yourself and your children for their future stability.
  • Encourages co-parenting: The collaborative divorce mentality promotes that your former spouse is more than just an ex, but a co-parent to always be there for your kids. You will be given the opportunity to work together and solve problems as they arise, so you’ll have more chances to make your kids happy when they see you together at their personal activities and family events.
  • Offers creative solutions: Collaborative divorce encourages the separated parties to use creativity to resolve challenges relating to child custody, visitation, and more.

Emotional Support Resources For Your Child: 

Child inclusive: In some cases, a child specialist will meet with the children to provide feedback to the collaborative team and parties. This is important because they are meeting in a neutral environment to provide feedback and information to help create a support plan for the children in the collaborative divorce process. This mental health professional can assess the feelings and needs of the child to help them feel a sense of support. They can also inform the parents of their child’s concerns and desires so these can be worked into the final parenting plan.

About Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals

NCDP professionals work together to help contesting parties resolve their disagreements efficiently and respectfully outside of court. Our team works as a filter to keep legal, emotional, financial, property, and child custody matters from hindering a resolution that is fair and acceptable to both divorcing parties and any children. NCDP’s team is composed of divorce lawyers, mental health, and financial professionals based out of Northern Nevada cities Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Minden/Gardnerville. We can help your conflicts become resolved without going to court by negotiating mutually acceptable settlements.

Our Melissa Exline, Vice President since 2016, focuses on divorce and custody cases and works with clients to reach an amicable resolution. She takes an honest, straight-forward approach to family law, always putting children first when custody is a high priority. A member of the Nevada Justice Association, you can find Melissa at Surratt Law Practice in Reno, Nevada.

We at Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals believe that when mutual respect and a resolve to manage differences are maintained through cooperative divorce, moving forward has a realistic basis for success. With the more positive process this method promotes, new beginnings and opportunities take root more quickly. Contact us today and see how our team can help your divorce stay out of courtroom litigation!

©2022 Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals || All Rights Reserved || Privacy Policy
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram