In life, change is the only constant. This is also true with respect to your Parenting Plan. What may have worked for you and your children when they were five may not work when they are 12. In Colorado, a Parenting Plan can be changed at any time, as long as the parent seeking the change can show that it would serve the best interests of the child.
The first step is to review your current orders, and ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is causing disagreement between you and your co-parent?
2. Are there any provisions that you and your co-parent have verbally agreed to change, but have not written down?
3. Are there any additional items that you did not include in your original Parenting Plan that should now be included? Examples can include extracurricular expenses or car insurance for teenagers who can drive.
4. Are there any sections that are outdated, or that you would like to see changed?
While you are reviewing your parenting time orders, you should also check to see if you have a mediation requirement. Many Parenting Plans require that you attend mediation before filing any motions. Occasionally, it may require that you attend arbitration or follow some other dispute-resolution process. Even if your Parenting Plan does not have a mediation requirement, the Court will require you to attend mediation before a hearing is held.
Once you have answered these questions, you can prepare for either mediation or filing a Motion to Modify. If you and your co-parent cannot agree, you can request the appointment of a Child & Family Investigator (CFI), who will make recommendations to the court about what parenting time schedule is in the child’s best interests.
Do you need to change your parenting time schedule? I’m here to answer any questions you might have.