What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio
My ex-husband and I have not had any changes to our original parenting plan since our divorce, in 2001. The current order states that I have sole legal and physical custody of our daughter (age 9). He was given EOW from Fri-Sun and mid-week visitation from 5-8pm. Over the course of the last 5 years or so, we have gradually and mutually agreed upon increasing the visitation, to near 50/50. He lives relatively close to us now, and there is NO reason in the world why our daughter shouldn't spend as much time with him, as she does with me. He is a good dad and while we have had our differences in the past, for the most part, we've put aside our differences for our daughter's best interest. Both my ex-husband and I are re-married. He has one step child and 2 biological children with his wife. My current husband has custody of his daughter, who lives with me, my hubby and my (our) daughter. For the most part, we all get along.
In the past, we've maintained the school schedule throughout the summer, as well. We've always been pretty flexible with sharing time, trading visitation times if needed, etc. I asked him in April, what his plans were for summer visitation, as I was changing dd's child care provider from a daycare, to a home sitter, just for the summer. I sent several emails, with no response from him (when he did acknowledge my emails, he agreed to wherever I wanted to send her for the summer, as he trusts my judgement). I signed a contract with a new sitter for full time summer care, and all was well. About mid-June, he decided that he wanted more visitation with our dd in the summer, and asked to switch to every other two week schedule. I explained that I would be more than willing to have that schedule, but I had signed up for summer care, and would still be responsible for paying the sitter, regardless if dd was with him or not (we were 3 weeks into summer, as dd got out of school in May, when he brought this issue up). This caused a disagreement b/t him and I, so I suggested that we attend mediation to work out a new parenting plan, and to update our current parenting plan to reflect the "true" schedule as it is currently.
We have mediation this coming week. We both realize that whatever summer schedule we agree upon, will not go into effect until next summer. We really don't have any issues to "hash" out, except for the summer visitation schedule. Will the mediator bring suggestions to the table in addition to our suggestions? Or are we supposed to come up with everything on our own? Also, after our mediation, should I expect to hire an attorney to write up the new visitation plan or will this automatically be filed based on what is agreed upon in mediation?
Basically, I just want to know what to expect during and after mediation. Should I be bringing up every aspect of visitation? Only the issues we disagree? Just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. I definitely don't want to waste anyone's time (mine, his or the mediator's!). Thanks so much.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
My ex-husband and I have not had any changes to our original parenting plan since our divorce, in 2001. The current order states that I have sole legal and physical custody of our daughter (age 9). He was given EOW from Fri-Sun and mid-week visitation from 5-8pm. Over the course of the last 5 years or so, we have gradually and mutually agreed upon increasing the visitation, to near 50/50. He lives relatively close to us now, and there is NO reason in the world why our daughter shouldn't spend as much time with him, as she does with me. He is a good dad and while we have had our differences in the past, for the most part, we've put aside our differences for our daughter's best interest. Both my ex-husband and I are re-married. He has one step child and 2 biological children with his wife. My current husband has custody of his daughter, who lives with me, my hubby and my (our) daughter. For the most part, we all get along.
In the past, we've maintained the school schedule throughout the summer, as well. We've always been pretty flexible with sharing time, trading visitation times if needed, etc. I asked him in April, what his plans were for summer visitation, as I was changing dd's child care provider from a daycare, to a home sitter, just for the summer. I sent several emails, with no response from him (when he did acknowledge my emails, he agreed to wherever I wanted to send her for the summer, as he trusts my judgement). I signed a contract with a new sitter for full time summer care, and all was well. About mid-June, he decided that he wanted more visitation with our dd in the summer, and asked to switch to every other two week schedule. I explained that I would be more than willing to have that schedule, but I had signed up for summer care, and would still be responsible for paying the sitter, regardless if dd was with him or not (we were 3 weeks into summer, as dd got out of school in May, when he brought this issue up). This caused a disagreement b/t him and I, so I suggested that we attend mediation to work out a new parenting plan, and to update our current parenting plan to reflect the "true" schedule as it is currently.
We have mediation this coming week. We both realize that whatever summer schedule we agree upon, will not go into effect until next summer. We really don't have any issues to "hash" out, except for the summer visitation schedule. Will the mediator bring suggestions to the table in addition to our suggestions? Or are we supposed to come up with everything on our own? Also, after our mediation, should I expect to hire an attorney to write up the new visitation plan or will this automatically be filed based on what is agreed upon in mediation?
Basically, I just want to know what to expect during and after mediation. Should I be bringing up every aspect of visitation? Only the issues we disagree? Just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. I definitely don't want to waste anyone's time (mine, his or the mediator's!). Thanks so much.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
