Many Louisiana parents realize at some point that their relationship is not going to last. Whether married or unmarried, when they go their separate ways, working out child custody and visitation issues become a priority. Each parent might believe that he or she knows what is best for the children, which could lead to a contentious court battle.
Avoiding such a battle is often seen as being essential in order to make the transition as seamless and peaceful as possible. In the absence of circumstances such as abuse, the children deserve to spend as much time with each parent as possible. However, putting that into practice is not always feasible. One parent will more than likely end up with the lion’s share of time with them.
If Louisiana parents are not married, the first step will be to establish paternity in court. Once that is done, the same issues will need to be resolved as with those couples who were married. You and the other parent will need to figure out a visitation schedule, make decisions regarding issues such as education and religion and deal with any other needs of the children. If the two of you are able to put aside your differences and work together, a plan can be created that is specific to your family’s needs.
When custody, visitation and other issues are resolved between the parents, both parties are more invested in making the agreement work. Your children deserve to be with both of you and to know that you each love them and want to be with them as much as possible. When they see that you and the other parent are willing to work together for them, it can give them the security and love they need to get through the separation.