August 18, 2026
What Is a Parenting Plan?
When parents separate or divorce, one of the most important aspects to address is how they will co-parent their children going forward. This is where a parenting plan or parenting agreement comes in. A parenting plan is a written agreement that outlines how parents will share responsibilities and make decisions about the children’s upbringing. It helps ensure that both parents are on the same page about these issues, which can reduce confusion and conflict
What Does a Parenting Plan or Parenting Agreement Include?
A parenting plan usually includes several key sections to make sure both parents are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Here are some common parts of a parenting plan:
1. Physical Custody and Time Sharing
This section details where the child will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. It can include a schedule for weekdays, weekends, holidays, and school breaks. It also covers how exchanges will happen, such as where and when the child will be picked up and dropped off.
This section may also include reference to your state’s particular laws about moving with the child(ren), and requirements about giving notice of intent to move, and what may happen if notice is not given or if the other parent objects to the move.
2. Decision-Making and Legal Custody
Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about a child’s life, such as their education, healthcare, religious practices, and participation in extracurricular activities. In this section, the parenting plan outlines whether parents will share these decisions equally or if one parent will have the final say in certain areas.
3. Communication Guidelines
This section sets guidelines for how parents should communicate about their child, such as whether they should talk by phone, text, or email. Other families decide to use third-party apps, such as Our Family Wizard, which keeps a log of communication and offers other features such as a shared calendar. This section of the parenting agreement can also address how parents should communicate with the child during their time with the other parent (for example, no disparaging remarks about the other parent).
4. Holidays and Special Occasions
A parenting plan will often specify how holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions will be divided. This section ensures that both parents have a chance to spend time with the child on dates or occasions that are important to them.
5. Dispute Resolution
This part of the plan outlines how changes or modifications to the plan can be handled, and how conflicts will be resolved. It may suggest mediation, filing a proposal to modify the plan that will have to be presented and reviewed by the court, or other methods to handle disputes.
How Does a Parenting Plan Differ from a Custody Agreement?
While a parenting plan and custody arrangement are related, they are not quite the same. Custody refers to the legal rights a parent has over the child’s care. It is often broken down into two types: physical custody, which refers to where the child lives, and legal custody, which refers to who makes decisions about the child’s life.
A parenting plan, on the other hand, is more detailed and covers the day-to-day details of how parents will manage their child’s time, care, and well-being. The parenting plan works within the framework of the custody arrangement to ensure practical matters, like scheduling, decision-making, and conflict resolution, are addressed. In essence, the parenting plan helps parents co-parent effectively after the legal custody arrangements are decided.
