Parenting Plans in Rhode Island (Custody Agreements)

A parenting plan explains how parents are to handle raising their child when they are no longer in a relationship. If parents agree on parenting arrangements, they write their terms into a parenting plan. This is optional for parents who aren't divorcing, but still advisable because a parenting plan ensures you know how to handle things without being in constant contact with your co-parent.

Parenting plan templates

Rhode Island doesn't have a parenting plan template, so parents can create their own document. Or they can use the Custody X Change parenting plan template, which works for both proposals and agreements. It offers a wide selection of provisions (parenting rules) to choose from.

Try this with Custody X Change.

Provisions to include

At minimum, your plan must cover placement (also called physical custody) and legal custody.

Placement is where your child lives. Parents may have shared placement (meaning they both have the child in their possession for equal time), or one parent may have primary placement (meaning the noncustodial parent has less time with the child). You must create a placement schedule to show the days and times the child will be with each parent.

Parents may have joint legal custody (giving them equal rights to make decisions for the child) or one parent may have sole legal custody. You may even give one parent sole legal custody just over certain decisions.

Other helpful topics to include in a plan:

• Child support: If you agree on child support, you can address it in your parenting plan. You still need to fill out a child support worksheet to figure out the amount you'd pay based on the child support guidelines. If you deviate from this amount, explain how your amount still meets the child's best interests.
• Exchanges: Set ground rules for transferring the child to one another. Will you go to one another's homes or exchange the child in a neutral location, like a grocery store parking lot?
• Health care: Include who will be responsible for the child's health care coverage and how you'll split monthly premiums, co-pays, etc. You could also cover medical decisions.
• Extracurriculars: You might require parents to get the child to commitments during their custody time. Sometimes a parent is tempted to keep the child home when an activity cuts into parenting time.
• Schedule disruptions: Detail what you'll do when you can't follow the schedule due to circumstances beyond your control. For example, will you stop visits when the child is sick?
• Discipline: Consistent discipline is essential to co-parenting. For example, make sure parents know that if the child loses cell phone privileges in one home, they lose it in the other.
• Disagreements: If you have joint legal custody, explain what you'll do when you can't get on the same page. Will you go to mediation before resorting to court? You might hire a professional to make decisions for you, like a parenting coordinator.

Finalizing your parenting agreement

If parents agree on a parenting plan, they must file their plan with the court to ask the judge to sign off on it as the custody order. Do this as soon as you can after starting a case.

You'll need to fill out additional paperwork depending on your case type.

Fill out a Stipulation form if you're divorcing. Attach your marital settlement agreement, child support worksheet and parenting plan.

Fill out a Consent Order form if you're not divorcing. Attach your parenting plan and a child support worksheet if you also agree on that.

The easiest way to make a parenting plan

When you're writing a parenting plan, it's critical you use airtight language that leaves no room for interpretation.

If you hire a lawyer, they'll write up the plan and ensure it meets the court's requirements.

If you write your own plan, use technology to take guesswork out of the equation. The parenting plan template in the Custody X Change online app walks you through each step.

You can customize this with Custody X Change.

The result is a professional document that demonstrates your competence as a parent from the first glance.

The easiest and most reliable way to make a parenting plan is with Custody X Change.