A Common Parenting Plan Template
 A
parenting plan contains the documents that the parents create about child custody. In order for parents to make sure that
they have included everything they need to in their plan, the parents can follow a parenting plan template. There are several
templates available, and most of them contain the same suggestions. Here is a basic
parenting plan template that a mother and father can use to create their plan.
The first thing to include in your parenting
plan is the type of custody you and the other parent have over the children. One parent may have
sole custody, which means that the children live with that parent and visits the other parent, and that the custodial parent
makes the decisions for the children. Parents can also have joint legal custody or joint physical custody. In joint legal
custody, the parents share the legal authority to make decisions for the children. The parents may have one custodial parent
and both have legal custody. Parents can also opt for a joint physical custody arrangement where the children spend about
equal time living with both parents. The mother and father should make the decision about custody according to what works
best for the children.
The next part of the parenting plan template is to come up with a child custody and visitation schedule.
The first thing to do is come up with a schedule for a certain number of weeks (usually one to four weeks). The parents take
this small amount of time and map out the custody and visitation. For example, the parents may choose a two week schedule
and alternate weeks of custody. Or, they may choose a two week schedule with one parent having custody during the week with
a few visits to the other parent and the parents alternate weekends. The schedule should reflect whatever works for the parents
and the children. After this little schedule has been mapped out, the parents should repeat it for a year in the calendar.
This is the repeating cycle and is the foundation for the custody and visitation schedule. Spend enough time exploring options
so both parents are happy with this, because this is the heart of parenting plan.
The next step is to make a holiday schedule. The mother and father should divide the holidays
between thme and plan on how they will alternate the holidays through the years. They also need to determine when a holiday
starts and stops. Some holidays may last for a day, and some can last for a weekend or so. The parents can also choose to
put in school breaks and holidays into the holiday schedule. Once the holidays have been divided, the parents can write the
time on the calendar. Remember that a parent who has a holiday gets priority over regular scheduled holiday time.
Once that part of the template is complete, the parents can set up provisions and stipulations about child
custody. These are any rules the mother or father wants both parents to follow. A mother or father may want a provision that
states that both parents make choices about the extra-curricular activities of the children. There can also be provisions
about who is allowed to stay in the house when the children are present. Think of what is important to you and put that in
your plan.
By focusing on what the child needs and what is best for the situation, parents can make a plan
that will benefit their custody situation. This plan can help them raise the child in the best possible environment and
gives the parents something to follow. All of this helps bring peace and order to the lives of everyone involved.
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