How to Make a Parenting Plan
What does a parenting plan include?
The two main parts of a parenting plan (also called a custody and visitation plan) are:
- Parenting Schedule: sets out specific days and times for children to be with each parent; who will transport the children, where will the transfer happen, who will pay for any travel necessary for visits.
- Decision Making: sets out how decisions will be made with respect to health, education and social issues for children. Will the parents make them together or should one parent have decision making authority?
Custody and visitation orders also cover areas such as travel, conditions for visitation, PFDs, taxes, and health insurance.
Using the resources listed below, you may want the help of a counselor, mediator or co-parenting coach to develop a schedule that works for your family.
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How does a judge decide whether to order a specific parenting plan?
The court determines custody and visitation according to what arrangement is in the child’s best interests. To figure this out, the court considers a series of factors called the “best interest” factors which include:
- the physical, emotional, mental, religious, and social needs of the child;
- the capability and desire of each parent to meet these needs;
- the child's preference if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form a preference;
- the love and affection existing between the child and each parent;
- the length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity;
- the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the other parent and the child, except that the court may not consider this willingness and ability if one parent shows that the other parent has sexually assaulted or engaged in domestic violence against the parent or a child, and that a continuing relationship with the other parent will endanger the health or safety of either the parent or the child;
- any evidence of domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect in the proposed custodial household or a history of violence between the parents;
- evidence that substance abuse by either parent or other members of the household directly affects the emotional or physical well-being of the child;
- other factors that the court considers pertinent.
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What resources can help with making a parenting plan?
It takes time and creativity to make the actual schedule, which is what the judge needs to issue a court order. When reviewing your proposal, the judge will want to know how and why the schedule is in your child(ren)'s best interest, which is the legal standard for deciding custody and visitation.
You need to think realistically about your schedule, the other parent’ schedule and your child(ren)’s needs. Don’t be afraid to try a few different options. Sometimes, adjusting just a few hours a week can really help reduce parental conflict.
The following sample scheduling chart can help you work out a weekly plan and calendars help think about the whole year:
- Weekly Scheduling Chart, SHC-1132 Word
| PDF
- Yearly calendars
- When thinking about the schedule for school age children, use your the local school calendar so that you’ll know vacation dates etc. School calendars are also very handy because they provide a calendar for the entire year, so you can easily count up overnights, which you’ll need to know for child support calculations.
- A 1-page annual calendar without school dates
You can also fill out:
- Best Interests Affidavit, SHC-1125 Word | PDF
This form provides the framework for you to state why the proposed parenting plan is in the child(ren)’s best interests. It goes through each of the best interest factors and has a space for you to write in specific information about how your plan addresses each factor. Remember the court uses the best interest factors to determine the custody and visitation arrangement. The court may use the information you provide in the Best Interest Affidavit in reaching the custody decision. It is an affidavit so it must be signed in front of a notary. The court clerk can notarize the document for free.
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What forms can I use to state what schedule is in our child(ren)’s best interest?
There are different forms that you can use to say what schedule you want. They include the basic topics that should be covered in court ordered plans. Read through to see which form will help you to organize your thoughts and develop a plan that will work:
- Custody & Visitation Plan (long), SHC-1120
Word | PDF
- Custody & Visitation Plan (short), SHC-1122 Word
| PDF
- Proposed Parenting Plan (23 pages), SHC-1127 Word
| PDF -- OK for Fairbanks
If both parents argree:
- Parenting Agreement, DR-475
Word | PDF
- Agreement & Order for Custody and Visitation, SHC-1126 Word | PDF
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Rev. 4 April 2011
© Alaska Court System
www.courts.alaska.gov
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