Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman’s divorce has been
finalized just three weeks after the
Never Been Kissed actress filed for divorce. The couple
announced their separation in April of this year after a four-year marriage.
Surprisingly, Drew and Will are not battling it out in a messy, Hollywood-style
divorce. Instead the couple have opted to remain close friends following
their separation – they were even on a family trip when the divorce was
finalized!
Although an amicable, Hollywood-style divorce is a bit of an oxymoron,
Drew and Will’s positive relationship will be incredibly beneficial
for their two children, Olive and Frankie. Since announcing their split,
the couple have made it clear that the children are their “first
priority”.
Drew and Will’s divorce was uncontested, which means there was no argument
with respect to their property or the custody of their two daughters.
However, it likely that the pair have a
Separation Agreement that deals with parenting rights and obligations to prevent any disputes
from arising in the future.
In Canada, many couples include a parenting plan within a Separation Agreement
that outlines how they will raise their children following separation
or divorce. Generally, a parenting plan sets out a schedule of the time
each parent has with the children. A more comprehensive plan may also
include details about decision-making, residence, care, holiday arrangements,
communication, and the child’s relationship with extended family among others.
Parenting plans are oftentimes customized to meet the needs of a particular
family and provide much needed flexibility as the children develop and
their needs and interests change. If a dispute arises, the plan typically
includes a dispute resolution mechanism that provides the parents with
recourse in the event that one parent fails to follow the plan, or the
parents cannot settle a disagreement. Therefore, parenting plans are often
linked with non-litigation methods of resolving disputes, which can be
tremendously beneficial for the children.
The goal of most parenting plans is to set out as many details as necessary
in order to minimize conflict between parents. In this way, parenting
plans allow parents to make the children their “first priority”
upon family breakdown.