Child custody involving special needs children

Child custody cases are often complicated, but this is even truer when the child at the heart of it has special needs. Taking the time to get the parenting plan terms right so they meet the child’s needs must be a priority in these cases.  

Both parents will need to sit down and take a realistic look at how they can make the situation work. This is especially important if one parent has been the primary caregiver for a child who has complex needs. Still, both parents need to have time to spend with their child.

Discuss daily needs

The daily routine of a child who has special needs can be very complex. In many cases, one parent took care of the routine while the other parent worked. Both parents need to know what’s going on so they can do what the child needs during their parenting time.

Plan for medical care appointments

Medical care appointments, including things like therapy, are often time-intensive. There has to be a plan for these. Make sure you consider things like transportation, especially if the child has a lot of equipment or larger items that need to be brought with them.

Talk about decision making

Keeping track of everything for a child who has special needs can be difficult. Typically, one parent will need to spearhead making the decisions about health care, as well as education. One thing that you must consider is how emergency decisions will be made. Outline this in the parenting plan so there’s no question about it if anything comes up.

The parenting plan must be set to address the needs of the child right now. This is likely going to be very detailed if you have a child who has special needs. As time progresses and the child’s needs change, you can modify the plan.