No matter where you live, you need to know and understand your state's family laws so you can create an effective visitation schedule. Learn how to make a visitation schedule in Connecticut that will be accepted by the court.
When
creating a visitation schedule wherever you live, you need to know
about the family laws in that state. In the state of Connecticut, you
can find those laws in the General Statutes of Connecticut, Title
46b, Family Law. The Superior Court of Connecticut prefers that
parents come to an agreement on child custody and other matters and
then submit that agreement to the court. After the court reviews it,
the agreement will either be accepted or rejected in whole or part.
If it is rejected, changes will be made as the court deems necessary
and proper. It is in the child's and parents' best interest to reach
a fair agreement so the court can rule in favor of it.
Before
you begin creating your Connecticut visitation schedule, it is
essential to realize the schedule will become a court order that must
be followed and there are penalties for not following it once it has
become official. If either parent is found to be in contempt of a
court order, that parent will be held responsible for paying all
legal fees and court fees and may even have to go to jail. The
benefit of making your own schedule is that you can be flexible and
creative with it but you still have to follow it completely.
You
should also consider that Connecticut law gives third parties the
ability to apply for (and receive) visitation rights. At the court's
discretion, it may allow a third party to have visitation with the
child if that third party applies and visitation is found to be in
the child's best interest. A Connecticut court is not likely to go
outside of the parents' wishes, but if a third party can prove to the
court that they have a previously established relationship and that
severing the bond between that party and the child would be
detrimental to the child, that person is likely to receive visitation
time. Third party visitation time does not imply any parental rights
and it does not take away any of the parents' rights.
A
basic schedule that dictates when each parent has parenting time
with the child. You can use a traditional schedule, modify one or
create something entirely unique to your child.
A
separate schedule for how holidays and special days will be shared
between parents. Some parents rotate holidays and alternate them
each year, but you can make a holiday schedule that is unique to
your situation and that is best for your child.
Provisions
for school and personal vacation time. Typically, the school
vacations are set and the personal vacations can be flexible, with
notice. This can be customized to best suit your child's needs.
Provisions
for transportation, including the transfer location and which parent
is responsible for picking up and dropping off the child.
One
of the most important things to remember when making a visitation
schedule in Connecticut is that it is for the child and not the
parents. Connecticut uses the child's best interests as the
determining factor in family law cases. An agreed upon visitation
schedule that is in the child's best interests will most likely be
accepted by the court.
Tracy Bensun is interested in the law and especially family law. Her main interest lies in how children are affected by divorce and child custody. She has done extensive research on her own and loves to share her knowledge. She is affiliated with Custody X Change, which is a software program designed to assist in child custody visitation schedules, custody agreements and parenting plans.
