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Last Modified on Jun 17, 2026
As a parent, experiencing a custody battle for your children is a difficult and challenging situation. In Louisiana, parents have the ability to settle their differences through a settlement conference. Whether you are dealing with a case of high-conflict custody in Louisiana from your home in Church Point or you reside in Broussard, using a settlement conference to build a parallel consensual joint parenting plan might be the correct option to suit your needs.
What Is a consensual joint Parenting Plan in a High-Conflict Custody Case?
No custody case is easy, especially when the parents are experiencing high levels of conflict while trying to reach an agreement. Studies show that children who become involved in a high-conflict custody case are 50% more likely to suffer from certain mental conditions, such as anxiety or depression, in the future. Though the divorce rate of Louisiana is relatively low—0.9 cases per every 1,000 residents—cases of high-conflict custody still arise.
When two spouses cannot reach an agreement regarding the custody of their children or their own parenting decisions, a viable solution is consensual joint parenting. In this a consensual joint parenting plan, the spouses establish their own set of routines, rules, and parenting styles. This agreement helps reduce tension and conflict between the parents by minimizing direct shared contact and creating a more stable environment for the child.
Consensual joint parenting plans are common in cases of high-conflict and become appropriate under the following circumstances:
- The parents experienced repeated failures of effective or respectful communication.
- There is a history of domestic violence or restraining orders between the co-parents. In Louisiana, more than half of the adult population has been victimized by some type of domestic violence or abuse.
- There are allegations of psychological manipulation or parental alienation.
- The parents are unable to agree on even the most simple and basic of parenting decisions, such as their child’s education or medical care.
In these cases of high-conflict, a consensual joint parenting. plan might be the correct legal solution that addresses your needs as a parent, the needs of your child, and keeps you out of a public courtroom.
How Custody Is Addressed in a Settlement Conference
Couples involved in a high-conflict custody battle find numerous challenges when it comes to creating a workable parenting plan. Often, these couples simply default to a courtroom battle, which can prove to be expensive, and a judge will not always align with your wishes. That is where a settlement conference proves useful.
When going through a divorce, co-parents have the ability to participate in a settlement conference, alongside their respective attorneys, to reach agreements on various issues, including custody. You can use a settlement conference to make decisions regarding legal custody, physical custody, and child support. You and your spouse can also come up with and agree to a consensual joint parenting plan instead of simply arguing over custody arrangements.
A settlement conference can prove helpful because, while it offers an environment of collaboration, your attorneys are also there to protect you should any areas of high conflict arise. During your settlement conference, you have the ability to discuss your consensual joint parenting plan, any unique scheduling due to holidays or weekends, school breaks, and vacations, and transportation.
About Laura L. Davenport, LLC
At Laura L. Davenport, LLC, our attorneys are dedicated to helping families find amicable solutions to their issues regarding divorce, child custody, property division, and support payments. We see great value in settlement conferences, even in cases of high conflict, and know how to protect the rights of our clients. For decades now, our team has been helping families through a variety of legal challenges. Let us help you today.
FAQs
Q: How Does Consensual Joint Parenting Protect My Child?
A: A consensual joint parenting plan can help shield and protect your child from conflict between the parents by reducing the direct interaction shared between the parents, establishing clear and predictable boundaries and routines, providing the child with time shared with each parent that is uninterrupted, preventing children from being used as messengers, and limiting opportunities for confrontation in front of the children.
Q: How Can I Create a Consensual Joint Parenting Plan?
A: In order to create a consensual joint parenting plan, the parents must first be able to agree that the creation of this plan is the right way to approach their differences. Clear boundaries and expectations will need to be established, and the best interests of the child discussed. The parents can create this plan during a settlement conference, and the plan is then filed with the court.
Q: What Mistakes Should Be Avoided in a Custody Divorce Settlement Conference?
A: There are several mistakes that should be avoided during a custody battle and divorce settlement conference. One of these mistakes is allowing anger or resentment to come to the forefront of your decision-making. You also should not use your children as tools to seek revenge against a spouse, or reject any plan that offers long-term stability for your children, simply out of malice or revenge.
Q: Can You Modify an Existing Consensual Joint Parenting Plan in Louisiana?
A: Yes, in Louisiana, you may be able to modify an existing consensual joint parenting plan if certain circumstances have changed due to a possible escalating conflict that warrants a material change in circumstances. Evidence that can support a request for modification includes documented communication between the parents that is hostile, a failure to comply with the existing order, or documentation from a therapist or teacher that the conflict is harming the child.
Hire a Divorce Settlement Conference Lawyer Today
If you and your spouse are unable to reach agreements regarding child custody on your own, have areas of high conflict, yet want to do whatever is possible to avoid a courtroom battle, you need to hire a divorce settlement conference lawyer right away. At Laura L. Davenport, LLC, we see your needs, the issues that exist, and know that a consensual joint parenting plan might help address those issues. Contact our offices today to learn more and to schedule your initial consultation.
