Custody Parenting Plan

Child custody is a very important subject that you and your co-parent must spend a lot of time discussing. It is crucial that co-parents going through a divorce or custody case realize that the custody parenting plan that they enforce will define their parenting lives for a long time. This issue does not just stop at custody; a parenting plan must define in much more detail the arrangements that have been made between co-parents. The first step in creating an effective custody parenting plan is to understand everything that goes into creating it.

Types of custody

The first thing that co-parents must discuss is the type of custody that will work the best for the both of them. In a custody parenting plan both physical and legal custody must be clearly defined. Physical custody has to do with the day-to-day caretaking responsibilities for the child. Legal custody has to do with the important decision-making responsibilities for the child. This may include making decisions regarding the child’s heath care, education, religion, and other important issues regarding the child. In a custody parenting plan, both of these types of custody must either be defined as one parent having sole custody or both parents sharing joint custody. Family court judges and professionals typically prefer that co-parents come to an agreement on joint custody. Most family court professionals believe that it is in the best interest of the child if both co-parents actively play a role in parenting their child. If co-parents cannot come to an agreement on custody outside of the courtroom a judge will grant custody to the co-parents based on what they see as being in the best interest of the child.

Creating a custody parenting plan

After you and your co-parent have come to an agreement on the type of custody that you will establish you will be able to include it into your custody parenting plan. This will allow you to complete all of the details of your custody parenting plan based on the type of custody that you have established. There are some basic things that need to be defined in your custody parenting plan. These things will essentially define your day-to-day life until your child becomes a legal adult. It is very important that you sit down with your co-parent and discuss these issues. Weekend and weekday schedules are arguably the most important details that must be included in your custody parenting plan. For some examples on popular custody schedules and how to implement them please visit the OurFamilyWizard Calendar page. It is important that you be as flexible as you can when coming to an agreement with your co-parent on a custody schedule. Pick up and drop off terms are also an important detail that must be included in your custody parenting plan. This is especially important if you and your co-parent have a high-conflict relationship. For these types of situation, picking up and dropping off your child at your home or the home of your co-parent is usually not a good idea. Child support and split expenses are also an extremely important detail that must be defined in your custody parenting plan. Depending on the type of custody that you and your co-parent have agreed on the amount of child support and split expenses may vary.

These are only a few of the important details that must be included in your custody parenting plan. For a comprehensive list of things to include in your custody parenting plan consult with a family law professional in your state or county. For some helpful resources to get you started on creating your own custody parenting plan check out these Parenting Plan Worksheets for Co-Parents. The OurFamilyWizard website® has been helping co-parents to easily manage and enforce their parenting plans for years. For more information on how the OurFamilyWizard website® can help you with your custody parenting plan please visit the Divorce Parenting page.