As you begin to make your parenting plan, or as you look to modify or make changes to your existing parenting plan, it can be informative to look at examples of other plans. Looking at a model parenting plan can remind you of important elements to include in your plan, and it can give you ideas of how to create your plan so that it fits the needs of your child. Here is each part of the parenting plan, along with an explanation of what that part should include. All of these added together make a great model parenting plan template.
The Parenting Time Schedule
A big part of any parenting plan is the parenting time schedule. This schedule shows the time that the child spends living with each parent. Important parts of the schedule include the daily schedule of where the child lives, a schedule for vacations or school breaks, and a holiday schedule. Along with the actual calendar that shows the time each parent has with the children, you need to think about provisions to help the schedule work. You need to make arrangements for the child’s transportation between the parents’ homes. You should also have a process for how you make one time changes to the schedule, how you plan to accommodate your child’s extra-curricular activities, and if you will have the right of first refusal (this means that if one parent is unable to take the child for their parenting time, they must give the other parent the first option to take the child instead of finding other child care).
Information About Legal Custody
Once parents separate, they need to figure out how they will make important legal decisions for their child. The responsibility and right that parents have to decide things for their child is called legal custody. These decisions include where the child goes to school, what medical care the child receives, the religious affiliation of the child, etc. You need to decide if you and the other parent will both contribute to these decisions (joint legal custody) or if one parent will have the authority to make all of the decisions (sole legal custody). If you have joint legal custody, you need to come up with a plan for how you will make the decisions. Will both parents discuss every major decision? With each parent have specific areas they make decisions for? Will the parents make the decisions when the child is in their custody? You should also think of a plan for how you will handle disagreements about decisions.
Medical and Dental Care for the Child
An effective parenting plan will include information about how the child will receive necessary medical and dental care. This means that the parents should have information about the child’s insurance, and which parent provides the insurance.
Other Provisions and Stipulations
You should also think about the unique needs of your child and to come up with additional provisions and stipulations that will enhance your plan and make it run more smoothly. Some provisions to think about include:
- Information about traveling with the child.
- Education and schooling for the child.
- How the parents will communicate about important issues.
- How the parents will resolve disputes.
- Safety requirements for the child.
By following this basic parenting plan template, you can come up with a plan for your child. You can build on top of this plan so that you have a thorough document for your custody situation.