Why a Thorough Parenting Plan Matters
Many parenting disputes that end up back in court involve original plans that left key issues unaddressed. Judges hate vague plans. The more specific your plan, the less room there is for disagreement — though court approval still requires compliance with your state's specific requirements.
Our co-founders paid over $50,000 in attorney fees partly because their initial plan left too many things unaddressed. This guide covers every section a complete parenting plan should include.
1. Custody Schedule
The custody schedule defines where the children live each day. Common arrangements include:
- Week on / week off — simplest for older children, fewest transitions
- 2-2-3 rotation — children never more than 3 days from either parent
- 2-2-5-5 — consistent mid-week days plus alternating weekends
Your schedule should specify the exact day and time of each transition, not just "alternating weeks."
2. Holiday and Vacation Assignments
Holidays are the most common source of post-divorce conflict. Your plan should address every major holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and each child's birthday. Specify whether they alternate yearly or are assigned to one parent permanently.
Vacation policies should cover: how much notice is required, maximum trip length, how to share itineraries and contact information, and what happens if vacation time overlaps with the other parent's time.
3. Transportation and Exchange
Define who drives to exchanges, where exchanges happen (school, a neutral location, home), and what time. Courts increasingly favor school as the exchange point — it's neutral and avoids direct contact.
4. Communication Platform
Specify how co-parents will communicate about the children. Options include TalkingParents, OurFamilyWizard, or a simple texting arrangement. Defining this in the plan creates accountability — messages are logged and courts can review them.
5. Decision-Making Authority
This section covers major decisions about education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. Plans can specify joint decision-making (both parents must agree) or sole decision-making (one parent has final say). Be specific about what qualifies as a "major" decision.
6. Right of First Refusal
This provision requires that if a parent needs childcare for more than a set number of hours (commonly 4-8 hours overnight), they must offer the other parent the opportunity to care for the children before using a third-party caregiver. Not all plans include this, but it can prevent conflict about babysitters and new partners.
7. Expense Sharing
Beyond child support, parents share many costs: medical copays, school fees, extracurricular activities, clothing. Your plan should specify the percentage split and the process for reimbursement — including how quickly expenses must be submitted and paid.
8. Schooling Preferences
Which school will the children attend? What happens if one parent moves to a different school district? Who attends school events, teacher conferences, and receives school records? These should all be addressed.
9. Therapeutic Services
If the children are in counseling, or if one or both parents want that option, document the therapists' names, how sessions are scheduled, and how costs are split.
10. Tax Dependency Exemptions
Who claims the children as dependents for tax purposes? The IRS allows the claiming parent to be specified in the parenting plan. Common arrangements: alternate years, one parent always claims, or split by child when there are multiple children.
11. Relocation Policy
What happens if one parent wants to move? Most states require court approval for moves beyond a certain distance (often 50-100 miles). Your plan should specify the notice period required and the process for requesting approval.
12. Special Provisions
This catch-all section covers anything specific to your family: handling new partners, social media rules, dietary or religious restrictions, travel documentation requirements (passports for international travel), etc.
13. State-Specific Court Formatting
Most states have specific formatting requirements for parenting plans filed with the court — font size, line spacing, margin width, pleading paper in some states. A plan that doesn't meet these requirements can be rejected by the clerk's office.
14. PDF and Word Export
Your plan needs to be submittable to the court. That means a clean, formatted document — not a printout from a web page. Make sure whatever tool you use produces a proper PDF or Word document.
Build Your Plan with CoreParent
CoreParent guides you through all 14 sections with plain-English prompts and produces a structured PDF for $49. Our co-founders paid over $50,000 to have an attorney draft theirs. You shouldn't have to.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Parenting plan requirements vary significantly by state and jurisdiction. Consult a licensed family law attorney before filing any documents with a court.