Areas of Practice

New Hampshire no longer uses the terms “custody” and “visitation.” Instead, parents involved in legal proceedings about their children can expect to achieve a “Parenting Plan” through which all of their parental rights and responsibilities are defined. One parent may have primary residential responsibility for the child/ren, which means that the child/ren live with that parent most of the time. Just as often, parents will share parental rights and responsibilities, so that the child/ren spend approximately equal time with the mother and the father.

There are many different ways to develop a shared parenting schedule. The Court will consider various factors, such as the parents’ work schedules, the school or day care location and schedule, and special medical or behavioral needs of the children, when writing a parenting plan. Most parenting plans that are developed and agreed to by the parents will be approved by the Court, as parents who work together to come up with a schedule are more likely to be committed to making shared parenting work.