Before you attend your child custody mediation, it’s important to prepare yourself so that you can explain your plan and schedule in a clear and calm manner. If you’re living in North Carolina, here are some tips to make sure you’re ready for the mediation meeting.
Explore scheduling ideas
Evaluating your schedule and looking at free times in the calendar will help you come up with a scheduling plan to bring to child custody mediation. You and your ex can also look at the calendar together to come up with a scheduling plan that works for the both of you while keeping your child’s best interest at the forefront of the conversation.
It’s a good idea to use a timeshare calculator to determine the percentage of time each parent spends with the child. This can help you create a schedule that works for both parties.
Consider plan provisions
Provisions are the guidelines in your child custody plan that will make the plan effective and ensure that each parent has shared responsibility. Be prepared to discuss topics like your work schedule and your ex’s work schedule, how far you live from one another and which parent the child spends the most time with.
Before going to mediation, consider the child custody agreement you already have with your ex. Keep track of this agreement to see if you’ve both been keeping up with your end of the agreement. If you find that you haven’t been spending as much time with your child due to work or other demands, offer a solution to rectify the situation.
Mental preparation
To make the mediation session more successful, focus on the well-being of your child and what would be best for them before making decisions. Be prepared to listen to the other parent’s viewpoint and offer constructive feedback. Mediation can help you come up with an agreement that benefits everyone involved.