In North Carolina Family Law, when most people think about Child Custody, they think about the type of custody schedule and rules that will govern their minor children. While this is certainly a large part of Child Custody in North Carolina, another key component of any child custody order, consent order for child custody, or out of court agreement on child custody are included provisions often referred to as “parenting rules” which govern the adult parents.
These “Parenting Rules” are do’s and don’ts that apply specifically to parents and govern how they both individually parent their children and how they interact with one another. These rules can include common terms, such as the right to access school or medical records of the child, or be specifically tailored based on the children and the parents involved. It is important to include Parenting Rules that allow you to have access and protection for a child specific to your individual case.
One of the most common Parenting Rules governs each parents rights to access their child via telephone or some other electronic means (ex. Skype) while their child is with the other parent. This Rule sounds simple, but there are countless arguments on when, how, and for how long a parent can speak with his or her child. A specifically tailored Parenting Rule which dictates a specific day and time of the week to talk can alleviate much of those arguments. Determining which parent is responsible for transporting the child at the beginning and end of any custody period is another “Parenting Rule” which can prevent future disagreement.
As with everything in North Carolina Family Law, there is no “one size fits all” set of standard Parenting Rules that will fit every family situation just right. While certain common Parenting Rules might be advisable in most situations, other must be tailored to the family they affect. To speak with someone today about what “Parenting Rules” might make since for your family, please call us today at (704) 810-1400.