A parenting plan, also known as a custody agreement, or parenting agreement, can help support a strong foundation for co-parenting. Creating a plan ensures both parties have discussed and agreed to a structure that emphasizes what is best for the child(ren).
What is a Parenting Plan
A parenting agreement in Ontario, is a formalized arrangement outlining the rights, responsibilities, and schedules for co-parenting after separation or divorce, aiming to provide structure, clarity, and legal enforceability in addressing the needs and well-being of the child(ren) involved.
Why Do You Need a Parenting Plan
Crafting a parenting plan is indispensable as it not only establishes a structured framework to reduce conflicts and promote stability in a child’s life post-divorce but also serves as a legally enforceable document, safeguarding both parents’ rights and ensuring the child’s best interests are prioritized.
How to Write a Parenting Plan
A parenting plan needs to put the physical and emotional needs of your child(ren) first. If possible, including children in some of the decision-making can help make a child feel heard and more likely to support the decisions being made.
What Should Be Included in a Parenting Plan
Custody Arrangements:
- Specify whether custody is joint or sole.
- Outline the residential schedule for the child, including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and special occasions.
- Detail the transportation arrangements for exchanges between parents.
Decision-Making Responsibilities:
- Determine how major decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities will be made.
- Specify whether decision-making authority is joint or sole.
Communication Protocol:
- Establish guidelines for communication between parents, including frequency, method (phone, email, text), and boundaries.
- Determine how emergencies or urgent matters regarding the child will be communicated and addressed.
Child Support:
- Include provisions for child support payments, including the amount, frequency, and method of payment, by the Ontario Child Support Guidelines.
Parental Responsibilities:
- Define each parent’s responsibilities for day-to-day care, discipline, and supervision of the child during their respective parenting time.
- Outline expectations for maintaining the child’s routine, including bedtime, meals, homework, and extracurricular activities.
Healthcare and Medical Needs:
- Specify how healthcare decisions will be made, including medical, dental, and mental health care.
- Provide details on how medical expenses, insurance coverage, and appointments will be handled.
Education and Extracurricular Activities:
- Determine the child’s school enrollment and educational goals.
- Address participation in extracurricular activities, including costs, scheduling, and transportation responsibilities.
Religious and Cultural Practices:
- Address the child’s religious upbringing and participation in cultural or religious activities.
- Determine how differences in religious beliefs between parents will be respected and accommodated.
Travel and Vacations:
- Outline procedures for travel with the child, including passport arrangements, consent requirements, and notification to the other parent.
- Specify procedures for planning vacations and extended trips with the child.
Conflict Resolution:
- Establish a process for resolving disputes or disagreements related to parenting issues, such as mediation or seeking legal advice.
- Specify how conflicts will be addressed in the best interests of the child, prioritizing cooperation and collaboration between parents.
Parenting Expenses:
- Address the sharing of expenses related to the child, including childcare, extracurricular activities, clothing, and other necessities.
- Specify how expenses will be documented, shared, and reimbursed between parents.
Relocation and Mobility:
- Outline procedures and notification requirements if one parent intends to relocate with the child, considering the impact on parenting time and access.
- Specify restrictions or conditions regarding mobility or relocation outside of a designated area.
Review and Modification:
- Include provisions for periodic review and modification of the parenting plan as the child’s needs and circumstances change or as agreed upon by both parents.
- Specify the process for making amendments to the parenting plan, including notification and consent requirements.
Parental Conduct and Communication:
- Establish guidelines for respectful and appropriate behavior between parents, especially in front of the child.
- Address communication protocols for sharing information about the child’s well-being, achievements, and concerns.
Emergency and Safety Protocols:
- Outline procedures for handling emergencies, including contact information for emergency services and healthcare providers.
- Address safety protocols and procedures for ensuring the child’s well-being during transitions and exchanges.
Parental Access to Information:
- Specify each parent’s access to the child’s records, including medical, educational, and extracurricular information.
- Determine how information sharing and consent for accessing records will be facilitated between parents.
Tips for Writing a Great Parenting Plan
The most important part of your parenting plan is to put your child(ren) first. A stable and consistent schedule has been known to make children feel more comfortable and supported. Make sure to also be very clear on your child’s health and education decisions. It is important to set this precedent before you ever need it.
A parenting plan should go into detail regarding the care of the child(ren) here are 3 in-depth topics that should be covered in your parenting plan.
The Government of Canada has a great guide on what reactions to expect at different ages from your children.
Schedules That Work For Some of Our Clients
There are so many different ways to manage your schedule. The best option is the one that works for your family. Here are some schedules that have worked for some of the families we have served.
- Biweekly rotation – One week with one parent, and one week with the other parent
- 2-2-5-5 rotation – Two days with one parent, and two days with the other parent. Then, five days back with the first parent, and five days with the other parent. A 3-3-4-4 rotation has a similar structure.
- 2-2-3 rotation – Two days with one parent, and two days with the other parent. Then a three-day weekend with the first parent and the cycle continues back to two days with the other parent and so on.
Parent alienation can come up during parental agreements. Using mediation is the best way to ensure your agreement puts emphasis on what is best for the child(ren) and creates a fair and stable co-parenting situation. To better understand parent alienation we have outlined some important facts.
But the biggest parenting agreement advice we can give you is to make sure a communication plan is set up with your co-parent.
Set an expectation for how you want to communicate about your child(ren) from the start that way everyone feels like they have a voice.
If you are looking for support during your parenting agreement book your free initial consultation today to get started.