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Every divorcing couple with children under 18 has to have a parenting plan for them. Either you and your spouse decide what it will be, and the court approves it, or a judge who doesn’t know you or your children will decide what it is going to be. An experienced mediator can help both parents create a plan that works for the family. 

Questions for parents to think about

What works for the children? For some, a week to week, 50-50 schedule works but the kids will only go to one school at a time. Where will they go?  Will they have to make a long commute to get to school if one parent relocates to another part of town? If it is more practical for the kids to spend more time with one parent during school, can they spend more time with the other parenting in the summer?

What happens when your 14-year-old wants to get a tattoo? How do you deal with extra-curricular activities? Who pays, and how much? Who decides what activities children will have during whose parenting time? How do you decide how to pay for things like braces? 

Focus on the child’s best interests

Remember that you and your former partner share one very important common goal — to do what is best for your child. No matter your differences, sharing this intention is the most important thing at the end of the day.

Work with an experienced mediator

An experienced mediator can help parents find practical solutions. All families are unique, but a mediator can make suggestions from past experiences that may be a starting point to help parents create a plan that works for their family. Irwin Kuhn has extensive experience helping couples navigate mediation and create fair parenting plans. He can help you collaborate on a plan that will work and be in your child’s best interest. If you have questions or you’re ready to get started, contact us at (615) 321-5659!

People don’t buy insurance policies because they hope to get sick but because they know bad things can happen and want effective ways to deal with adversity. Many people dismiss prenuptial agreements, commonly referred to as “prenups,” as “too unromantic” or “only for the rich and famous,” but they’re actually practical tools for planning for the unexpected. They can strengthen your relationship, foster communication, and help prevent stressful and expensive disputes down the road. In today’s blog post, we’re looking at some of the reasons you may want to consider signing a prenup.

1. Peace of mind that you’re marrying for love, not for money.

As couples put off marriage until they are more mature and settled, they have often built businesses and some financial security of their own. Other people may expect inheritance from their families. Prenuptials are an excellent way to put aside worries about what happens to those assets if things go wrong or in the event of death. 

2. Ensure support if things don’t go according to plan.

Prenups allow couples to avoid disputes about support in the event a marriage is dissolved. What happens if both parties continue to earn good incomes during a short marriage can be very different than what happens after a long marriage when one of them spent years raising children.

3. Avoid being held responsible for debt that isn’t yours.

Maybe you love that guy but you worry about the way he uses his credit cards. Take care of that in a prenup. Debt can last longer than love. A prenuptial agreement can address what happens to debt one party may take on during the marriage that might otherwise be considered the couple’s debt. 

4. Make it easier for your kids if something happens.

You can’t make a parenting plan in a prenuptial agreement but you might want to use one to make an agreement about who will pay for college or how wealth may be distributed to them in the event of death. Also, a prenup may help couples with children avoid bitter disputes about money that can make a difficult situation much worse for the children, young or old. 

I’ve decided to create a prenup agreement with my fiance. Who can help us?

Irwin Kuhn can help you strengthen your relationship with a prenuptial agreement. He will work with your fiance’s attorney (you both have to have one!) to create a plan that will benefit you both. We are passionate about helping couples protect themselves by coming together in this way. If you’re ready to get started, give Irwin a call today at (615) 321-5659.