Parenting Time & Decision-Making Responsibility

When parents separate, one of the most important issues to resolve is how their children will be cared for. This includes deciding where the children will live, how much time they will spend with each parent (parenting time), and who will make important decisions about their upbringing (decision-making responsibility). Together, these arrangements are called a parenting plan.

If parents cannot agree, a judge may have to decide what arrangements are in the best interests of the child. At Rogers Law Firm, we encourage parents to keep their child’s well-being at the centre of every decision and to carefully consider how separation may be affecting them.

Parenting arrangements can feel overwhelming, but understanding the terminology helps.

• Decision-making responsibility refers to who has the authority to make important choices about a child’s education, health care, and general welfare. This can be shared between parents or held by one parent alone.
   
• Parenting time refers to the schedule of when the child is in the care of each parent. Parenting time can be equal, or one parent may have the child for the majority of the time, depending on the circumstances.
   

Every family is unique, and parenting arrangements can be flexible to meet the specific needs of your children. The focus is always on creating a plan that supports their well-being and stability.

Ontario Child Custody    Family Law Act