Simplify your divorce or custody case with clear and easy-to-use attorney-drafted parenting plan provisions.
Parenting Plan
Provisions
Custody arrangements—joint, sole, shared, or hybrid—that clearly define each parent’s responsibilities while offering a flexible framework adaptable to their family’s needs.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
customizable to fit family needs, establishes clarity and structure
benefits:
legal and physical custody, including joint, sole, shared, and hyrbid
covers:
Child Custody Arrangements
Guidance on visitation schedules that support the unique needs of infants. Helps establish age-appropriate contact that prioritizes the child’s sleep, feeding routine, and emotional bonding with both parents.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
support healthy development, allows for gradual change
benefits:
frequent short visits, gradual transition to longer visits
covers:
Visitation: Infants
Age-appropriate visitation arrangements that support a toddler’s need for routine, familiarity, and emotional security. Helps establish consistent and manageable parenting time, including shorter, frequent visits.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
allows time to adjust, keeps routines consistent, supports bonding
benefits:
mid-week, weekend, short, and gradual increases in visitation
covers:
Visitation: Toddlers
A balanced visitation schedule that supports the developmental and academic needs of school-age children. Offers structure around school routines, extracurricular activities, and homework responsibilities.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
sets clear expectations, minimizes potential conflict, reduces anxiety
benefits:
weekend, mid-week, flexible, and supervised visitation
covers:
Visitation: School-Age
A visitation schedule that respects a teenager’s growing independence while maintaining strong parent-child relationships. Considers the teen’s academic responsibilities, social life, and extracurricular commitments.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
support independence, adaptable to academics and extracurriculars
benefits:
flexible arrangements that acknowledge teen preferences
covers:
Visitation: Teenagers
A clear and fair holiday schedule that balances time spent with each parent during special occasions. Helps prevent conflicts by outlining how holidays and important family events will be shared or alternated.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
ensures the child(ren) can spend important holidays with each parent
benefits:
major federal holidays and religious celebrations
covers:
Holiday Schedule
Clear and fair transportation guidelines that outline who is responsible for pick-ups and drop-offs, specify the locations involved, and include provisions for long-distance travel.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
reduces misunderstandings and last-minute disputes
BENEFITS:
specific responsibilities for picking up and dropping off
COVERS:
Pick-Up & Drop-Off
Customize your parenting plan to your family’s unique needs with these optional provisions designed to add clarity and flexibility.
Add-On Parenting Plan
Provisions
Clarity that when one parent is unavailable to care for the child(ren) during their scheduled time, the other parent has the first opportunity to provide care. Reduces the need for third-party caregivers.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
increased parenting time, co-parent cooperation, and consistency
benefits:
when one parent must offer the other parent childcare opportunity
covers:
Right of First Refusal
Clear guidelines on the exchange and care of a child’s clothing and personal belongings. Helps prevent misunderstandings by outlining how items should be shared, transported, and maintained between households.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
comfort and routine, saves time and costs, promotes accountability,
benefits:
how clothing and belongings for child(ren) will be managed
covers:
Clothing & Personal Items
Fair and clear arrangements for celebrating their child(ren)'s birthdays. This provision helps ensure that both parents have the opportunity to participate in special birthday events.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
clear expectations, helps birthdays remain joyful, not stressful
benefits:
how the child(ren)’s birthdays will be celebrated with each parent
covers:
Birthdays: Children
Clear expectations around celebrating each other’s birthdays while co-parenting. This provision encourages respect and cooperation by outlining how parents will acknowledge and celebrate their birthdays.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
demonstrates mutual respect, reduces misunderstandings
benefits:
how each parent's birthday will be celebrated with the child(ren)
covers:
Birthdays: Parents
Clear guidelines regarding the introduction and involvement of new romantic partners in their child(ren)'s lives. Helps set expectations for timing, communication, and appropriate boundaries.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
encourages thoughtful and intentional introduction for child(ren)
benefits:
set expectations and guidelines for new romantic partners
covers:
Romantic Partners
Clear guidelines on how to handle requests to change your child’s last name legally. Helps establish a process for discussing, agreeing upon, and documenting any name change decisions.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
prevents unilateral decisions, promotes transparency and fairness
benefits:
whether the child(ren)'s legal last name can be changed
covers:
Legal Name Change
Clear and fair framework to manage vacation time with their child(ren). Outlines how vacation requests should be made, the notice required, and how conflicts will be resolved.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
helps parents plan ahead for trips, reducing last-minute conflicts
benefits:
how each parent can schedule extended time
covers:
Vacation Time
Clear guidelines on their child(ren)’s passports and travel documents. Helps ensure both parents know where the passports are kept, who is responsible for obtaining or renewing them, and how travel requests will be handled.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
reduces the risk of last-minute disagreements or misunderstandings
BENEFITS:
how a child’s passport will be handled between parents
COVERS:
Passport Guidelines
Clear guidelines on how shared expenses related to children—such as medical costs, extracurricular activities, or school supplies—will be paid and reimbursed between co-parents.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
clear guidelines, financial transparency, prevents misunderstandings
BENEFITS:
eligible expenses, documentation, reimbursement timeframe
COVERS:
Reimbursement Policy
A clear, organized way to maintain a strong relationship with their child(ren) despite living far apart. This includes setting regular schedules for visits, virtual calls, and other forms of contact.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
sets specific guidelines for visitation, communication, and travel
benefits:
how parents who live far apart will share parenting responsibilities
covers:
Long Distance Arrangements
Clear guidelines on caring for a sick child. Helps outline how to communicate about the child’s illness, make decisions regarding medical care, and coordinate parenting time when the child is unwell.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
reduces stress and confusion, helps parents know what to expect
BENEFITS:
who will stay home, information sharing, medical decisions
COVERS:
Caring for a Sick Child
Clear guidelines on childcare arrangements. Helps define how decisions will be made and ensures both parents are informed and involved in selecting and managing caregivers.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
ensures transparency around who is caring for the child(ren)
BENEFITS:
how parents will handle childcare when neither is available
COVERS:
Childcare Arrangements
Clear guidelines on sharing important information about their child(ren). Ensures both parents have timely access to medical, educational, and other relevant records.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
clear guidelines for access to vital updates and documents
BENEFITs:
each parents' right to access important information
COVERS:
Access to Information
Clear and respectful way to handle requests for extra parenting time. Outlines how to ask for additional visits, the notice required, and how to agree on changes.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
balances consistency with reasonable flexibility
BENEFITS:
how parents can ask for additional parenting time
COVERS:
Extra Time Requests
Fair and flexible way to handle missed parenting time. Provides clear guidelines for requesting and scheduling makeup visits, ensuring that both parents can maintain consistent and meaningful contact.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
minimizes arguments about whether time can be made up
BENEFITS:
how missed parenting time will be handled
COVERS:
Makeup Parenting Time
Clear expectations on substance use around their child(ren). Helps promote a safe and healthy environment by outlining acceptable behaviors and setting guidelines.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
sets clear rules for substance use and consequences for violations
BENEFITs:
rules and expectations related to a parent's use of alcohol or drugs
COVERS:
Substance Use
Clear expectations around late arrivals or missed exchanges. Helps reduce confusion and frustration by outlining how to communicate delays, set grace periods, and handle no-shows to maintain respect and cooperation.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
reduces conflict and promotes accountability
BENEFITS:
what happens when one parent is late or fails to show up
COVERS:
Late Arrival or No-Show
A clear and structured process for how and when parents communicate, preferred methods (e.g., email, text, or co-parenting app), response times, and expectations for respectful, child-focused communication.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family.
INCLUDES:
clear, consistent, and respectful communication between parents
BENEFITS:
how parents communicate, response times, and expectations
COVERS:
Methods of Communication
Clear and consistent discipline guidelines. Helps establish shared expectations for setting boundaries, addressing behavior, and enforcing consequences to support the child(ren)’s well-being and promote cooperation between households.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family's needs.
INCLUDES:
prevents confusion or mixed messages, promotes stable environment
benefits:
types of acceptable and unacceptable discipline for child(ren)
covers:
Discipline Guidelines
Clear and up-to-date contact information sharing. Helps ensure both parents can easily communicate and stay informed about their child(ren)’s needs, activities, and any urgent matters.
BEST FOR PARENTS SEEKING:
- Step-by-step guide to customize your template.
- Customizable versions of the provision to insert into your parenting plan.
- Guidance on which version of the provision is best for your family's needs.
INCLUDES:
coordinate schedules or changes, share important updates
BENEFITS:
agreement to share contact details (phone, email, address)
COVERS:
Parent Contact Information
During your free consultation, we’ll listen to your goals and concerns, then help you understand which provisions align best with your values and needs.
Schedule a free consultation for personalized guidance.
have questions?
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