A parenting plan is a document that two co-parents who do not live together use to help them work together to raise their child.The parenting plan can be mandated by the family court.Take time to think about how you want to approach child rearing when writing a parenting plan.As your child ages, you may have to amend the agreement.
Step 1: The schedule should be decided on.
How often the other parent will visit the child is the first thing you need to decide.If you have your own circumstances, you can decide on joint custody or if it is best for the child to live with one parent.If you have a baby, try to arrange the schedule so that both parents have the chance to participate in the day-to-day care of the baby as this is important for bonding.If your child is older, the school schedule may affect your schedule.If a parent decides to move, talk about what will happen.
Step 2: There is a plan for holidays.
You may want to make some changes to your schedule for holidays and vacations.If Father's Day falls on a day when the child would normally be with the mother, you may want to make a special exception for that day.You may be able to split holidays if you live close to each other.For example, you may have the child for Christmas morning and your co-parent has a child on Christmas night.It is important to consider vacation plans as well.If you plan on taking a two-week vacation with your child over the summer, make sure your co-parent is allowed to do the same.To avoid scheduling conflicts, be sure to coordinate vacations with your co-parent.Birthday parties are something that you may want to plan for.Decide if you will have separate parties or a single party where both sides of the family will be invited.
Step 3: Think about special circumstances.
In addition to holidays and vacations, there may be other things that necessitate an adjustment to the schedule.It's impossible to plan for everything, but having a basic idea of how you will handle special circumstances will help you avoid conflicts with your co-parent.If the child is sick, you have to adjust the schedule.If there is a funeral or a last-minute invitation to a birthday party, decide how you will deal with it.If the child is not able to be with one parent during a normal visit day, you can either make this day up or just continue with the regular schedule.You can decide to have the child spend an extra day with that parent.
Step 4: The child is allowed to stay with someone.
If you don't trust certain members of the family to be around your child, it's important to outline the restrictions in the parenting plan.If the person is not alone, it's okay for them to be around your child.Establishing general guidelines for the type of person who is allowed to babysit your child is something you may want to do.If you and your co-parent agree, all babysitters must be at least 16 years old and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Step 5: How will you swap your child?
If your child spends time with both you and your co-parent, you will need to establish a procedure for exchanging the child.The kind of relationship you have with your co-parent and how close you are to each other will determine the right arrangement for you.Dropping the child off at each other's houses is possible if you and your co-parent have a good relationship.If you don't want your co-parent coming to your house, you could meet somewhere else.You could arrange for one parent to drop the child off at school and the other to pick him up from school.
Step 6: Decide how you want to spend your time.
It's important to talk to your co-parent about what extracurricular activities your child will be involved in.If one parent is allowed to sign the child up for an activity without the approval of the other, you need to figure out if you will discuss each activity before committing to it.In addition to time considerations, you should also consider that your co-parent may not agree with the activity or that it is too expensive.It will be much easier to make decisions when there is a plan in place.It's important to think about transportation to and from activities if they are far away.It is important to agree on this before committing your child to any activities that may take place during your co-parent's visit.
Step 7: Who will attend an event?
Whether your child plays soccer or performs in the school play, you will eventually be faced with an event that you may both want to attend.An agreement about who will attend which events with your child is needed.If they are frequent, you may decide to attend alternating events.You have to decide if there will be any rules.Are you going to sit separately and not talk to each other?
Step 8: How you communicate with your co-parent will be determined.
A lot of things will come up when your child is with you, and your co-parent will want to know about it.The schedule for soccer games, punishments, and issues that your child has been having at school are included.It is important to have a plan for when and how you will communicate this type of information.Discuss your preferred method of communication.You can communicate by email if you don't like talking to your co-parent in person or on the phone.If you decide to use an intermediate to communicate, you should outline how and when it will happen.What information should be shared?You co-parent may want to know about it every time your child has a cold, or the two of you may decide that this is not necessary.
Step 9: Coordinate routines.
Walk through your child's daily routine with the other parent and try to agree on a schedule that you both can follow.Having the same routine in both households will make things easier for young children.Sleeping and feeding schedules are important for babies.It's important that homework and playtime are consistent for older children.
Step 10: Rules for communication with a child.
Clear rules are needed for how and when each parent will communicate with their child during a visit.If you can come to an agreement that allows the child to stay in contact with both parents, there will be no conflicts between the parents.The hours in which the other parent can call the child may be set.Both of you should agree to allow the child privacy when talking to the other parent.Your schedule may affect your rules.If the child is staying with one parent for the entire summer, the other parent may want to phone frequently.Frequent phone calls may not be appropriate if the child is only with the other parent.You and your co-parent have to decide how much information to give your child about the parenting plan.Depending on your child's age and maturity level, you can choose the right choice.If you have a teenage son who you think would appreciate the chance to contribute to the plan, you may want to allow him to help you make some of your decisions.Some aspects of the parenting plan, like the financial clauses, are not appropriate to share.
Step 11: A child support agreement should be established.
Child support is one of the more controversial aspects of a parenting plan.A fixed amount of money is usually paid to the other parent by the non-custodial parent.Each parent's income and custody arrangement will affect the amount.It is possible to agree on a child support arrangement that works for both you and your co-parent.You can go to family court if you can't come to an agreement about child support.If other elements of the parenting plan change, child support may need to change.You might have to go to court to get the changes made.
Step 12: Financial support for adult children should be discussed.
Child support is only required for minor children.It may be appropriate for you and your co-parent to financially support your child for longer.You will need to include the details of your financial support in your parenting plan if this is the case.You can either establish an age at which you will no longer financially support your child, or you can use some other factor.When your child graduates from college, you and your co-parent may decide that your financial support will end.
Step 13: Determine how expenses will be handled.
Discuss with your co-parent who will be responsible for everyday expenses if it is not already outlined in your child support agreement.If your child needs to buy a gift for a birthday party, who will pay for it?You might want to come up with guidelines for how much you should spend on certain items.
Step 14: How will you handle large expenses?
You and your co-parent will need a plan for larger expenses associated with your child.Fees associated with a school trip abroad are examples of things that may be included.You might want to make a provision that requires large expenses to be agreed upon before they are incurred.This would prevent your co-parent from making a costly purchase for your child that you do not agree with and then expecting you to pay for half of it.
Step 15: Do you know if the belongings will be shared?
Should you keep individual items for your child at each of your homes or should you allow them to bring them back and forth?This can be applied to anything from a video game system to basic clothing and shoes.
Step 16: Discuss lifestyle decisions.
It is important to discuss lifestyle choices you have made for your child with your co-parent in order to come to an agreement that you are both happy with.You might want to make sure that your child eats a healthy diet while staying with you.Provisions may be made regarding the co-parent's lifestyle choices.You can ask your co-parent not to smoke with your child.
Step 17: Agree on the rules.
It's important that you and your co-parent are consistent with your methods.If your child fails to meet your expectations, have a detailed conversation about how you will deal with it.It is a good idea to make sure that your child's curfew is the same at both homes.Discuss with your child what circumstances they are allowed to go out without parental supervision.Discuss phone, internet, and television usage as well as other rules.If your child violates the rules of the household, make sure to implement them consistently.Discuss the same or similar chores with your co-parent if your child has chores.
Step 18: There is a plan for approaching religion and cultural heritage.
If you and the other parent have different religions and heritages, you should decide if you want to teach your child both.You can both agree on the decision.You may want to educate the child about both religions if you have different religions.You may decide to only teach your child about one religion if one parent practices their religion more than the other.
Step 19: There is a plan for education.
Do you want your child to attend public or private schools?If you haven't decided on a school yet, you may want to talk to your co-parent about how you will make your decision.You will have to deal with parent teacher conferences.Both parents can attend together, or you can take turns.It is possible to make arrangements with the teacher to attend all the conferences separately.If you receive information from the school, make a note in your parenting strategy.You can either arrange for one person to get everything and make copies for the other, or you can ask the school to send you both the same information.Decide who will be going to school.You can either have one person attend all the events or take turns.You should make a decision that you are both happy with.You should consider how you will pay for your child's college education.Guidelines can be established about how much each parent is willing to give.
Step 20: Who will attend to the child's medical needs will be determined.
If you split the costs of medical and dental insurance, who will cover it?Discuss your child's medical care with your co-parent, including how you will pick doctors, who will attend appointments, and what the protocol should be in the case of emergencies.If both you and the other parent work, you may decide to take turns taking your child to medical appointments.Depending on who has custody of the child at the time, the other option is to establish responsibility.If your child has special needs, these decisions are important.When it comes to care and treatment, both parents need to be on the same page.How to choose braces and how to pay for them should be decided.
Step 21: There is a plan for handling future decisions.
There will be other things that aren't included in your parenting plan.A general understanding of how you and your co-parent will make future decisions is a good idea.You might agree that you won't make any major decisions without consulting the other parent, and you will discuss the issues in person.
Step 22: Decide if you have to go to court.
Some co- parents are capable of agreeing on a parenting plan on their own.This doesn't work for everyone.You may need to go to family court if you can't come to an agreement with your co-parent.The judge will make a decision and issue an order to enforce the parenting plan.If you plan on sharing custody of a minor child, you may be required to file a parenting plan with the courts.If this applies to you, you should check with your local family court.
Step 23: Write everything down.
Writing a parenting plan is not easy.It will require significant time commitment from you and your partner.When the two of you can sit down and discuss all aspects of child rearing, try to coordinate a time.Take the smallest details and write them down.It will help prevent confusion later on.You should all have a copy of the parenting plan.
Step 24: You have to sign the plan.
Signing the parenting plan shows you are committed to following the agreement that you came up with.It's a good idea to have both parties sign the document if you aren't filing it with the courts.If you have to file a parenting plan with the courts, you will need to sign it in front of a public official.
Step 25: You should be willing to change your plan.
Plans will need to adapt as children get older.It's important to keep in mind that even if an arrangement works now, it doesn't mean it will work forever.It is possible to change the plan whenever it is necessary.It's a good idea to be open to discussing the plan whenever you need to, even if you want to create a schedule for reviewing and revising it.