Resolving Visitation Issues with Your Spouse

You may feel angry, frustrated, and upset if you are a noncustodial parent. However, it is vital to your relationship with your child that you put any differences with your spouse aside. The divorce is over, your spouse has custody, and now it is time for you to focus on spending as much time as you can with your children.

You should work with your soon-to-be-ex spouse to iron out the following issues related to creating a visitation schedule:

• The exact days and times you can spend with your children. It is important to be direct and clear when discussing when you will see your children.
• How much and what kind of contact your children are allowed to have with you when they are with your spouse? Can you communicate with them via email, phone, or text message?
• What holidays can your children spend with you? Again, make sure you discuss exact dates and times.
• What level of participation can you have in the lives of your children? Can you spend time with them when they are at extracurricular activities?
• Records. Are you allowed to have access to the medical and school records of your children?
• Transportation. Who will be responsible for transporting your children to and from school and extracurricular activities?

Every divorce case is different. The court considers what is best for the child when granting visitation rights. However, you can greatly improve your chances of obtaining visitation rights with your children if you retain experienced and aggressive counsel immediately.