What is a Parenting Plan?

An essential part of the parenting process when you're no longer with your X. Parenting Plan is an order entered by a court in one of these legal matters:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
• Petition for Legal Separation (Separation)
• Petition to Establish Parentage (Paternity)
• Petition to Modify Custody, or
• Petition for Non-Parental Custody, which is an action filed by a non-parent for custody of a child.
• A Petition for a Parenting Plan, which is filed when paternity has been established but no parenting plan was entered.
• A Parenting Plan differs in content from state to state and can be called a Visitation Plan. It can be a separate document or included within the body of the final orders, in your matter.
• It is advisable that a Parenting Plan be “very” detailed as to avoid confusion in the future.

What does the Parenting Plan tell me?

a) Which parent the child will live with;

b) The amount of time the child will spend with each parent;

c) Which parent will make major decisions about the child; and

d) How the parents will work out major disagreements.

How do I get a Parenting Plan For My Child?

You may obtain a Parenting Plan when you are a party to any of the court matters listed above. You may also file a proposed Parenting Plan if one of the above matters has already been filed, but a parenting plan has not been ordered by the court.

The Parenting Plan should be filed with your other papers--petition, motion, or response--and must be served on every other party in the case. You must give a copy of all your case papers to the other party in the case. Ask your court's family law facilitator or court clerk about rules for serving court papers.

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