As an Alabama parent, you likely have serious concerns regarding how the end of your marriage will affect your time with your children. Child custody and visitation matters can be quite contentious and emotionally difficult, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your parental rights.
One thing you can do is to prepare for the process ahead by educating yourself on your options and taking time to understand more about your right to visitation and regular access to your kids. As a biological parent, you have the right to maintain strong relationships with your kids even after your divorce is final.
Understanding your visitation rights
One of the main goals of any family law court is to protect the best interests of the children above all else. Children thrive when they are able to maintain regular contact with both parents after a divorce, and one way to do this is by providing a fair and reasonable visitation schedule. Consider the following about parental visitation after divorce:
- A judge may rule that parents have to come to their own resolution for visitation. You and the other parent can draft a visitation order outside of court as long as it is reasonable and fair.
- A court may rule that a non-custodial parent will have fixed visitation rights. This means that person will have time with his or her kids on certain days and at specific times.
- If at any point, your current visitation plan is no longer working for you or your children, you may be able to seek a modification to your visitation schedule.
If you will be the non-custodial parent or you will share custody with the other parent, you will find it beneficial to understand your right to a visitation schedule that is fair and workable long after the divorce is final.
Fighting for a fair outcome
The terms of your visitation order will have an impact on your family for years to come. Whether you are negotiating on a schedule out of court or you are petitioning the court for a fair visitation and custody order, you have the right to seek guidance and support as you do so.
The time you get to spend with your children is incredibly important and worth protecting. You can shield your rights and lay the foundation for a strong relationship with your children long into the future by ensuring you fully understand your parental visitation rights.