The parenting plan, which is normally incorporated with the marital settlement agreement, has the force of a court order.

Within reason, spouses can write anything into the plan. No one right plan exists; anything that works is fine.

The plan is a trellis upon which visitation happens, and visitation is, for divorced parents, now part of parenting. And parenting is now more difficult because the spouses are now seldom together to reinforce one another.

A parenting plan deals with the nuts and bolts of custody arrangements and the specifics of visitation by the noncustodial parent, such as schooling, special days and dates and contact by noncustodial parent. The plan is often built around a core schedule of hours and days when the noncustodial parent takes charge of the children.

The terms and conditions of medical insurance coverage and extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses for the children are normally described in the marital separation agreement, but the parenting plan may reference medical care, providing that each parent keep the other informed about the child’s routine visits to the doctor.

Some parenting plans also establish protocols for grandparent visitation. They may include agreements about third-party care of the children. They may establish limits on television watching, bedtimes, rules for homework.

Some plans now specifically include email as a designated communication link between children and the noncustodial parent, and designate a set time of the day for the noncustodial parent to call the child on the telephone.

The introduction of new partners into the lives of small children can be very difficult for a youngster, so a parenting plan may deal with dating and establish dating accords, including sleep over protocols for new partners.

A good parenting plan is specific enough to be useful, but general enough to be flexible.

See Parenting Time

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Your Suggestion

1. Having Parenting Plan or Agreement
   A good parenting plan gives children a measure of routine and predictability. A written plan, spelling out explicit visitation protocols, can go miles toward making life easier for everyone involved.
   Contributed on 7/11/2007 by: DivorceDex.com Staff

   Category: Agreements  (Applicable in All States)
2. Parallel Parenting & Co-Parenting
   The concept of Parallel Parenting is designed to acknowledge the fact that different parenting styles can and do exist between homes. By recognizing the differences in a respectful manner, parents can model options for diversity rather than conflict with their co-parent.
   Contributed on 1/14/2009 by: Center for Cooperative DivorceValencia, CA[Total Submissions: 1]

   Category: Parenting  (Applicable in All States)
3. Ideas for Co-Parenting Provisions
   It is wise to try to anticipate some of the problems that may arise between you as you co-parent your children and craft a settlement agreement that includes provisions to help address these issues, such as: Homework completion; Ensuring the children are fed and bathed prior to return to the other parent; Telephone contact with the children; Bedtimes; Providing clothes; Sharing responsibility for extracurricular activities; Providing travel information; Requiring immediate information sharing regarding the children’s medical status and any other significant event; Agreement regarding the children’s exposure to parent dating and to significant others; Babysitters; and Transportation for parenting time.
   Contributed on 6/21/2010 by: Taylor-Made Solutions, PLLCBingham Farms, MI[Total Submissions: 1]

   Category: Child Custody  (Applicable in Michigan)

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