What is a parenting
agreement?
A parenting agreement is where separated parents or guardians record their arrangements for looking after the children in a document.
Parenting agreements will include the following:
- Arrangements for day-to-day care - the parents or guardians might agree, for example, that they will share day-to-day care of the children equally, or that one of them will have day-to-day care most or all of the time
- Arrangements for contact - if only one parent or guardian is to have day-to-day care of the children, an agreement can record the arrangements for the children to spend time with the other person, including on special days such as birthdays and Christmas
Other parenting issues - an agreement might address issues to do with the children's care, development and upbringing, such as school, religion, education and travel.
Click here to find out if you are eligible for
free legal advice from a Family Legal Advice Service lawyer
The Care of Children Act 2004 supports parents and guardians agreeing on their own arrangements for the care of their children. When an agreement isn't working the Act also encourages parents and guardians to sort out their differences themselves. The Family Court arranges free counselling if necessary, to help them come to a new agreement.
Parenting agreement may be the basis for a Court Order
A parenting agreement cannot be enforced in the same way that a Family Court parenting order can. However, parents and guardians can apply to the Family Court to have a "parenting agreement" made into a "parenting order". The terms of the agreement can then be enforced like any other Court order.
Contact Family Lawyer
Antoinette Vujnovich, family lawyer, is available by appointment at the following locations:
Waihi, Bay of Plenty
Waihi Community Resource Centre
4 Mueller St, Waihi
p: (07) 929 7982
m: 021 210 0930
Katikati, Bay of Plenty
15 Talisman Drive, Katikati
p: (07) 929 7982
m: 021 210 0930
Manukau City, Auckland
Level 1, 3/12 Laidlaw Way,
East Tamaki
p: (07) 929 7982
m: 021 210 0930