To help guarantee your child’s interests are protected use our Parenting Plan template in PDF format. Avoid disputes with the other parent and understand your obligations with our outline.
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Should your Parenting Plan be enforceable by a court of law? Yes, it will be filed with a court No, it can stay as an informal agreementLast Update August 18th, 2024
Child Custody Plan
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Table of Contents:When creating a separation or divorce agreement, parents often include a Parenting Plan to define each parent's responsibilities to their child or children.
A Parenting Plan is also known as a Child Custody Agreement and this document determines:
It’s possible to modify a Child Custody Agreement without court involvement if needed. However, each state has different rules regarding how to submit and execute the plan.
Prepare your agreement with our Parenting Plan template to avoid any disputes with the other parent involved.
Creating a Parenting Plan may be necessary to ensure a cordial co-parenting relationship.
You should use a Parenting Plan if you are:
By drafting a well-written plan, you’ll be able to meet any requirements and prevent confusion regarding parenting responsibilities.
To correctly outline your legal document you’ll need to guarantee that every critical element is included.
The following topics should be addressed in your Parenting Plan:
With these details in your document, you can create a plan that accommodates your child’s present and future needs.
Once you understand what should be included in your Custody Agreement, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the steps to draft the document.
Follow the instructions below to make your Parenting Plan:
Begin by clearly stating the names and contact information of each parent. Outline your current parenting situation, such as time spent with your child, financial contributions, and your child's needs.
Define where the child will primarily reside and how time will be divided between the parents. Include a detailed custody and visitation schedule, covering regular days, holidays, birthdays, and vacations.
Determine which parent will make key decisions concerning education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Also, agree on the financial responsibilities of each parent, including child support, shared expenses, insurance, and future planning such as college funds.
Outline how the child's healthcare needs will be met and who will make medical decisions. Specify arrangements for the child's schooling and participation in extracurricular activities.
Decide on a plan for parent-to-parent communication, as well as transportation logistics for exchanges between homes. Furthermore, agree on methods for resolving disputes about the parenting plan itself.
Establish expectations for the child's relationships with extended family and significant others. Also, define a procedure for making changes to the parenting plan as the child grows or circumstances change.
Define the protocol for travel or relocation with the child, including notice periods and any other specific conditions. Ensure that each parent’s right to spend 2 weeks of vacation with the child or children is added.
Include that visitation between the child and their grandparents will be encouraged and facilitated.
Mention the requirement for each parent to maintain confidentiality regarding the child. Forbid the use of information that may be harmful to the other parent or child.
Go over the parenting plan thoroughly to ensure it’s in your child’s best interest and follows your state’s laws. Then sign the agreement.
Ensure that you avoid any mistakes during the writing process by using our Child Custody Agreement template.
When writing your Parenting Plan you may have questions about how to structure your document. Review the sample template below to help you during the writing process.
Certain legal forms can help you divide your belongings and settle financial obligations if you are planning to separate from your significant other.
Other documents can help you plan for different circumstances if you are not yet married to your partner.
These forms include:
Parenting Plans can often be difficult to prepare due to the many obligations parents have to take into account.
We have responded to some of the most frequently asked questions to provide further answers on how to prepare this document.
To properly execute a Parenting Plan you’ll need to include all the necessary information and then sign the document with the other parent. However, for the plan to be considered legally valid, you must follow your state’s laws.
States have different requirements regarding signing the document. Certain states make it obligatory to sign the Custody Agreement in front of witnesses.
Before signing your Parenting Plan, review your state’s laws.
Depending on the state you are drafting and signing your Parenting Plan in, you may need to get a notary public’s signature for your document to be considered valid.
Guarantee that you have followed all of your state’s requirements.
Even if it is not obligatory in your state you should get your document notarized to make it more official.
You are only a few steps away from your own Parenting Plan!
Download our professional examples1. Parents.
This Parenting Plan is for the children born to, or adopted by, the following parties:
| Parent: | _________ _________ |
| Parent: | _________ _________ |
2. Child Information.
This Parenting Plan is for the following minor child born to, or adopted by, the parties:
3. Child Custody Arrangement.
The parties acknowledge that matters about child custody arrangements for the minor children have been established by the _________ of _________ County in the State of California. The child custody arrangement outlined in this Parenting Plan is covered under docket/case number _________. No new child custody arrangement has been reached other than the one outlined in this Parenting Plan.
A copy of all Orders entered concerning custody is attached to this agreement.
4. Child Support.It is acknowledged by the parties that matters about the child support of their minor children have been established by the _________ of _________ County in the State of California. The child support outlined in this Parenting Plan is covered under docket/case number _________.
Under this court order, _________, shall pay child support in the amount of $_________. The court has continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over matters about the minor children of this marriage.
A copy of all orders entered relative to child support is attached to this agreement and shall be incorporated into any Judgment subsequently entered.
5. Information Sharing.
Unless a court order states otherwise:
A. Both parents shall have the right to receive essential information about the child, including details such as the child's current address and telephone number, education, medical, governmental agency, psychological, and law enforcement records.
B. Information regarding the child's academic progress and any school-related activities is equally accessible to both parents. Both parents are strongly encouraged to engage with school staff to discuss the child's welfare and education.
C. Both parents shall promptly notify each other of any emergency circumstances or significant changes in the health of the child.
D. Both parents shall furnish each other with current contact numbers and addresses, and shall promptly notify each other of any changes within 72 hours. If either parent relocates with the child from their usual place of residence, they shall provide the other parent with an emergency contact phone number.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW] SignaturesWe, with full knowledge and voluntary consent, hereby agree to the terms outlined in this Parenting Plan. Each party affirms that the information provided in this Plan is true and accurate.
| A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document. |
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF _________
On this _____ day of ____________________, _____, before me, ____________________ personally appeared: _________, who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within Instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity, and that by his/her/their signature on the Instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the Instrument.
I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
___________________________
Notary Public
___________________________
(print name)
| A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document. |
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF _________
On this _____ day of ____________________, _____, before me, ____________________ personally appeared: _________, who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within Instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity, and that by his/her/their signature on the Instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the Instrument.
I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
___________________________
Notary Public
___________________________
(print name)
