14 Things To Include In A Parenting Plan

I see it over and over again – at the time of the divorce, the parents are cooperating well and want flexibility in their parenting time schedule. Then, several years (or months) down the road, something changes and the parents start arguing. Maybe one parent gets remarried, there is a disagreement over medical treatment or school for the child, or a parent moves. Regardless of the issue, these types of disputes disrupt everyone’s lives.

Your Parenting Plan is the “master schedule” for the lives of you and your children after divorce. While it can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each family, there are some basics that should be included in every parenting plan.

1. PARENTING SCHEDULE

Obviously, a schedule of when the child will be with each parent must be included. This should include specific drop-off or pick-up times, as well as the location for the exchange, and which parent is responsible for picking up or dropping off the child.

2. CONTINGENCY PLANS

What happens if there is a snow day or the child wakes up sick on the exchange day, and the other parent is supposed to pick up the child from school? Your plan should include a plan for how pickups will occur if the child is not at school on the day of the exchange. Additionally, it should specify which parent is responsible for staying home with the child.

3. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

In addition to the major holidays (Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, etc.) and school breaks (Spring Break, Fall Break), you should also think about other days that are important to your family. For example, should the child spend alternating years with the parents for his or her birthday? Are Easter or Halloween important holidays to your family? Without a specific provision in place, the holiday will belong to the parent who has parenting time on the holiday. This can cause friction if a holiday consistently falls during the other parent’s time.

4. VACATIONS

How long of a vacation can each parent take with the child? Should there be parenting time with the other parent immediately before and after the vacation? How far in advance of the vacation do the parents need to notify each other?

5. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

If the child is enrolled in extracurricular activities or sports, how will the parties pay for these activities? Is there a limit on the number of activities in which the child will be enrolled?

6. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Parenting Plan should outline methods by which the parents can resolve a dispute, preferably without having to go back to court. There are many tools available to parents, including the use of parenting coordinators, decision-makers, mediation, and arbitration. You can learn more about each of these options in this article.

7. RESIDENCE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES

Which parent’s address will be used for purposes of school registration? Do the parties wish to have the child attend a private school, or the normally assigned public school?

8. MEDICAL DECISIONS

Will the parties jointly agree on medical, dental, and mental health treatment for the child?

9. RELIGIOUS

Generally, each parent is free to take the child to religious instruction of his or her choosing during their own parenting time. Do the parties agree that they will raise the child in a specific religious faith?

10. HEALTH INSURANCE

One parent must be responsible for providing health insurance for the child, which is included in the calculation of child support.

11. CHILD SUPPORT

Child support is based on the gross income of both parties, along with other additions for health insurance, work-related childcare costs, and extraordinary medical expenses. The initial amount of child support, the due date, and whether it will be paid directly or through the Family Support Registry should all be included in the Parenting Plan.

12. EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL EXPENSES

Colorado defines medical expenses as being “extraordinary” when the total amount of uninsured medical expenses is more than $250 per year, per child. The parties can agree to change this figure, either by raising or lowering the amount. The Parenting Plan needs to specify how the parties will split these expenses (percentage based on income, 50/50, or some other formula).

13. EXCHANGE OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

You should include a provision that the parties will exchange tax returns each year, to determine whether child support should be re-calculated. The parties can agree to modify child support and submit a stipulation to the court. A court will not order a modification unless there is a 10% change in the amount of child support that is due.

14. DEPENDENT TAX EXEMPTION

This is usually split between the parties in proportion to their income. The Parenting Plan should specify how this will be divided between the parties.