Adjusting a parenting plan? Get free advice!

Questioner

I have been divorced for a year now and now notice that I have very little 'freedom' and think that the father should have the children at least 1 extra evening and night per week. He has had all the time to build a new relationship. For me that is more difficult because I have the children with me 90% of the time. I would like to adjust the parenting plan to this so that he also gives me more space to build something new. However, my ex is not at home while I had thought that he would also be happy to see the children more. Should I have a new plan run through a lawyer or judge and enforce it? I can't reach an agreement with him.

Lawyer

You have entered into a contact arrangement with your ex-partner, which you cannot change unilaterally. If your ex-partner does not cooperate, then indeed the only way left is to go to court. In doing so, you will have to provide sufficient relevant arguments. Your feeling of 'not enough freedom' is not enough for that. The essential question here is of course whether the judge can and wants to restrict your ex-partner's 'freedom' in favour of yours and thus impose a forced contact arrangement on him. I advise you to request an exploratory meeting with a lawyer who specializes in family law. He or she can better assess on the basis of the file whether legal proceedings are worthwhile.