Parenting Plan

A Parenting Plan or Custody Agreement is required by the district court along with divorce paperwork when parents divorce or separate. A Parenting Plan allows parents to avoid future conflicts arising from a lack of guidelines in dealing with responsibilities relating to the children. Without specific agreements around these responsibilities disputes can arise and litigation may be needed to resolve these issues. When parents do not comply with this law the court is then forced to make decisions about the children's lives and come up with a Parenting Plan of their own. Parents can consider including binding arbitration where an arbitrator will make the same decisions that a judge would to avoid the courts in the future.

A Parenting Plan will addresses topics such as:

• Parenting Time (physical custody)
• Decision Making (legal custody)
• Transportation and Exchanges
• Annual Vacations and School Breaks
• Child Support
• A Dispute Resolution Process
• Schools Attended and Access to Records
• Physical and Mental Health Care
• Contact Information, Relocation and Foreign Travel
• Social Activities and School functions
• Overnights and Visitation
• Communications and Mutual Decision-Making
• Mediation and Arbitration
• Medical Insurance and Related Expenses
• Contact with Relatives and Significant Others
• Taxes and Wills

Some of these topics are regulated by state law such as child support and health insurance.

If the parenting plan is agreed by the parties before the court hearing, it is called "stipulated". A judge can approve such a stipulated parenting plan without a court hearing. Judges normally encourage parties to reach an agreement, rather than to go to hearing.