So, your divorce is over and you have a parenting plan, but now you are having trouble with meeting the terms of that plan. Maybe your former spouse refuses to deliver the children for your specified holiday or disputes that you are entitled to a certain day.

This can be one of the most stressful issues for a Seattle family law attorney because getting the court order in place is only half the battle. Getting people to abide by the orders is another. There are legal remedies available under Seattle family law for a parties’ lack of cooperation with a court order. However, legal remedies mean going to court and increasing tension. Therefore, parties ought to try to find a way to resolve their disputes on their own and use the courts only when necessary. The first tip is to try to engage in reasonable, mature, clear, and open communication with the other side and try to work out problems that way. However, since this is not always possible, here are a few suggestions based on Seattle family law that might help.

First, read your parenting plan carefully. Seattle family law parenting plans contain a Section entitled something like, “Priorities under the Parenting Plan”, and lists in order of priority which section applies. By using a little simple logic, this list can be the key to understanding which parent will have the children on a given day. By reading your Seattle family law parenting plan carefully, you should be able to determine where the children ought to be every day of the year.

Second, read the “Dispute Resolution” section of your Seattle family law parenting plan carefully. All Washington State family law parenting plans designate the procedures for resolving disputes under the parenting plan. Some designate only court action, but most designate a mediator, arbitrator, or other state agency as a contact for resolving disputes. If you are having trouble with the other party with your parenting plan, before you go to court, you might consider using the dispute resolution process.

Third, consult with a competent Seattle family law attorney and learn what are your legal options, the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and what a judge is likely to do with your dispute. The Washington State family law attorneys at McKinley Irvin have extensive experience with all areas of Seattle family law. Furthermore, they understand that Seattle child custody and visitation disputes are highly emotional and require care and compassion. They want to help resolve your dispute in the best interest of the children, without the stress of protracted litigation.