People who share children with each other but aren’t in a romantic relationship any longer will have to work together to determine how to raise the children. This isn’t always easy, but having a parenting plan sets the expectations for both sides.
Parenting plans often contain many terms. One of the terms that some people may not think about is the right of first refusal.
Terms of right of first refusal
The right of first refusal means that the parent who has the child at the time must ask the other parent if they want to care for the child instead of the child going to a babysitter. In many cases, parents add a minimum time frame. For example, they state that the right of first refusal goes into effect if the child will need care for two hours or longer.
If the right of first refusal is present in the parenting plan, the parent who has the child must contact the other parent if the babysitting need meets the terms noted in the plan. They must do this as early as they can. The other parent must provide an answer in a reasonable time, which might also be clarified in the parenting plan.
Purpose of the right of first refusal
The right of first refusal is one way that parents can have more time with their children without having to alter the parenting time schedule. This can save the other parent money since they won’t have to pay for a babysitter during that time.
The right of first refusal is only one of the terms that can be included in a parenting plan. Discussing the options that may apply to your case can help to ensure that you have a plan that reflects the children’s best interests. Because these agreements can be complex, it might be beneficial to work with someone familiar with these matters.