5 areas you must cover when creating your parenting plan

On Behalf of | Dec 22, 2021 | Blog, Child Custody |

Parents who decide to split must create a parenting plan to show how they will go about raising their children in a post-divorce world.

If you and your spouse or partner are members of this group, the court will expect your plan to contain specifics. Every parenting plan is unique, but here are five areas you must cover.

1. Responsibility

Begin your parenting plan by explaining how you will share your parental rights, responsibilities and childcare duties.

2. Major decisions

The court will want to know which of you will take charge of making major decisions on behalf of the children. Such decisions would address education, medical care, religious upbringing and discipline, among others.

3. Time-sharing

Your parenting plan must include time-sharing information. Explain how you will divide that time with the other parent and set out your specific schedule.

4. Communication

Explain how you and the other parent plan to communicate about anything involving your children. You may be fine with phone calls. On the other hand, emails or text messages may form the basis for touching base with one another.

5. Changes and conflicts

Conflicts will occur from time to time. They are inevitable and the court will want to know how you and the other parent will deal with them. Remember to include conflict resolution in your parenting plan.

Reminders

Children grow up. Your plan should indicate how your parenting time will change once your toddler starts kindergarten and then elementary school. Keep in mind that as long as both you and the other parent agree, you can make many changes to your plan outside of court. However, for larger life changes, such as parental relocation, you will need to seek a modification order from the judge.

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