When you are trying to balance family life with your duties in the U.S. military, things can get quite challenging at times. Especially if your unit deploys, you may rely heavily on your family care plan to ensure that your children are being well-cared for while you’re away. Certain issues can make military life more challenging than others.
For instance, if you or your spouse files for divorce, it will not only impact your children’s daily lives but may necessitate changes in your family care plan as well. The good news is that you can incorporate many important divorce-related issues into your plan.
Who will have custody?
If you are going to be the custodial parent, then you’ll undoubtedly want to make sure your care plan includes designated short- and long-term care providers. If your ex will not be serving in either capacity but will have visitation, you can specify instructions for your caregiver, such as when visits will take place.
If you are the non-custodial parent and your deployment is interfering with your scheduled visitation times, you may be able to designate a proxy, such as a close friend or family member, to visit with your children in your place.
Medical information and other important documents
You may want to provide access information for your caregivers regarding documents that pertain to custody, visitation or child support. You can also incorporate any information concerning your children’s medical care that you think your care provider will need, such as names and contact information for their doctors.
If you have sole legal custody, then no one should be making major life-decision pertaining to medical conditions, education, religion, etc., without first consulting you. If a legal problem regarding such matters arises while you’re serving a deployment, you can make sure ahead of time that your caregivers know how to contact a family law attorney of your preference.
Where to seek support
Your children’s daily routines will change while you’re away. However, your family care plan can ensure that certain things will remain the same, such as bed times, homework routines or anything else you wish to specify. While no custody or support proceedings can take place without you having the opportunity to attend the hearings, other issues may necessitate legal support.
If you know where to seek support, you can take comfort in knowing that you can successfully carry out your military duties without worrying that divorce-related issues back home will get out of hand.
