Things to Think About When Preparing a Parenting Plan

Focus on Kids: Parenting Plans

Remember these things when you and your child's other parent create a parenting plan:

- All decisions that affect parenting need to be addressed.

- Ideas from both parents should be considered; when both parents feel that they are actively involved in the process, they are more likely to respect and follow the plan.

- Both parents need to define their role in the children’s lives after the divorce. The parenting plan should reflect these new roles and responsibilities.

- Parenting plans should be structured enough to be understandable and flexible enough to be realistic.

- A distinction between the spousal and the parenting role should be made when creating the parenting plan.

- Anything left undecided by parents will be decided by a judge.

Some issues to be considered when developing your Parenting Plan:

The Children’s Schedule

1. Where will they stay on weekdays?

2. Where will they stay on weekends?

3. How will holidays be divided?

4. How will vacations be handled?

5. What will be done when a conflict arises in this schedule?

Child Support

1. How much child support is needed?

2. For how long will child support continue?

3. What will child support be used for?

4. How will it be paid?

5. How often will it be paid?

6. How will support be adjusted to the cost of living; will it increase with inflation?

7. Will support be adjusted to children’s development needs?

8. What will be the method of payment?

9. If needed, how will renegotiations take place?

Child Care

1. Who will care for the children when parents are working?

2. Should the other parent be called for childcare before calling a baby-sitter?

3. How will childcare or baby-sitters be selected?

Sick Children

1. Will parents be informed of illnesses or injuries that occurred during the other parent’s time?

2. How will the children’s schedule be handled when they are ill?

Extended Family

1. What will the grandparents’ role be in the children’s lives after the divorce? (In Missouri, grandparents do have a right to see grandchildren. Each parent should incorporate his or her own family of origin.)

Religion

1. If parents are of different religions, which religion will the children experience?

2. Which church will the children attend?

3. Who pays for religious education or special events (confirmations or Bah Mitzvahs, for example)?

Extracurricular Activities

1.  which camps, lessons, clubs, or sports the children participate in?

2. How will these costs be covered?

Education after High School

1. How will these costs be divided?

2. How will the decision of which school the children will attend be made?

3. Will child support continue during college?

Travel

1. Make sure that you have it clearly stated what the requirements are for overnight travel. Contact numbers, schedule, locations, and when this information must be delivered in advance and by what method.

2. If traveling outside the immediate area, will the parent traveling with the children notify the other parent?

Moving

1. How will moving affect custody arrangement?

2. What school will the children attend?

3. How will travel cost be covered?

 

4. What notification must be provided and how far in advance of the move. Always check you local rules and state law as there may be rules or law that cover this area.

Remarriage

1. How will remarriage by either parent affect child support?

2. How will remarriage by either parent affect the children’s schedule?

3. What role will the new stepparent play in the children’s lives?

Death

1. How will contact with the deceased parent’s family or origin remain in the children’s lives?

2. Who receives custody if the custodial parent dies?

Access to Records (Legal Custody)

1. Regardless of custody, both parents retain access to all the children’s records.

Health Insurance

1. Parents must include health insurance as part of child support when private health insurance is available to the supporting parent at a "reasonable cost". Thus, a family plan should be maintained.

2. How will any uncovered expenses be paid?

Tax Consequences

1. Who will claim the children as deductions for income tax?

2. Who will claim the "head of household status"?

 

IRS rules have changed in this area and there are releases that must be signed so the non-custodial parent can claim the child if you agree to alternate years on the tax deductions.

Life Insurance Policies on Parents

1. Who will be named as  beneficiaries?

Revisions of the Parenting Plan

1. How will revising the parenting plan be accomplished?

2. Do the children have a voice in determining if the parenting plan needs to be changed or updated?

3. It is recommended that an annual meeting is set to discuss possible revisions to the parenting plan.