How To Create A Parenting Plan

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Written By Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Contributor

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Updated: May 29, 2023, 5:58am

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Table of Contents

A parenting plan or custody arrangement is necessary when two parents plan to raise a child separately instead of in one household. Often parenting plans are created in the process of a divorce. Parents can draft a plan outside of court or can request the court make a decision about custody for them if they are unable to come to an agreement.

Drafting a parenting plan together is the best way for parents to ensure they have a custody arrangement that makes sense for their family and that is in the best interests of their children. That’s because parents know better than a judge how they can divide up time to maintain consistent routines and strong family relationships for a child.

Creating a parenting plan can be a challenge, though. This guide explains the steps necessary to do it successfully.

What Should a Parenting Plan Include?

A parenting plan should address all of the legal issues that are relevant to sharing custody of a child. This can include:

Your plan may also address other issues specific to your family. The key is to address in advance all of the issues likely to be raised while you are co-parenting.

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Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNN Underscored Money, Investopedia, Credit Karma, The Balance, USA Today, and Yahoo Finance, among others.

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