Legal decision-making
State the process for education, non-emergency health care, activities and other major decisions. Terminology varies by state.
Prepare the child-related facts before proposing orders.
A parenting plan is not only a calendar. Courts may need jurisdiction history, decision-making terms, a workable schedule, support information and safeguards appropriate to the family.
Source record reviewed: 2026-11-03 · Page updated: 2026-11-03 · Not attorney-certified legal advice
CHILD-RELATED FILE
Information commonly requested
- Each child’s legal name, birth date and current address
- Where and with whom each child lived during the period required by the state form
- Other custody, guardianship, support, parentage or protection cases
- School, childcare, medical, therapy and insurance information
- A regular school-week and weekend schedule
- Holiday, vacation, transportation and exchange arrangements
- Communication and decision-making proposals
- Income, overnights, childcare, insurance and extraordinary expenses for support calculations
PLAN FOR REAL LIFE
Test a proposed schedule before putting it in an order.
Consider travel time, school start and end times, work schedules, childcare handoffs, holidays, summer, children of different ages and what happens when a parent is late or unavailable.
Parenting time
Use specific exchange days, times, places and transportation responsibilities instead of vague “reasonable visitation” when conflict is possible.
Child support
Use the state’s current worksheet or calculator. An informal agreement may not replace required financial information or judicial review.
Protection and safe exchange
Domestic violence, abuse, substance misuse, threats or abduction risk require prompt, qualified help and may require emergency procedures.