Yes, absolutely. In fact, creating your own parenting plan is the best possible approach for your children and your family. While a judge always has the final authority to approve a plan, Ohio courts overwhelmingly prefer when parents work together to create a plan that is tailored to their family's unique needs.

Think about it: who knows your children's schedules, personalities, and needs better? You and your co-parent, or a judge who has only known your family for a matter of hours?

When you create your own Shared Parenting Plan, you retain control over the critical decisions, including:

• The week-to-week parenting schedule.

• The holiday and vacation schedule.

• How you will make decisions about schooling, healthcare, and religious upbringing.

• How you will handle communication and resolve future disagreements.

A plan that you create together is one that you are both more likely to follow, leading to less conflict and more stability for your children. The process of creating the plan, often with the help of a mediator or collaborative professionals, can set a positive tone for your co-parenting relationship for years to come. A judge's role is simply to ensure your agreed-upon plan serves the best interests of your children.

Understanding your options is the first step toward a more peaceful resolution. To learn the specific strategies for settling your case out of court, download our free guide: The Path to Peace: A Guide to Settling Your High-Asset Divorce Out of Court.