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Knowing what to include parenting plan documents require is the difference between a smooth co-parenting arrangement and years of return trips to court. A parenting plan is the written roadmap that tells two households who has the child, when, and who decides what. Most states now require one in every divorce or custody case involving minor children. Florida, Washington, and Arizona all mandate a written plan approved by a judge before a final judgment is entered.
However, the statutes set only a floor. Judges routinely reject plans that are too vague to enforce. Understanding what to include parenting plan rules demand — and what smart parents add voluntarily — protects your time with your child. This guide breaks down what to include parenting plan drafts need, section by section.
The Required Sections Courts Will Not Waive
Every state builds its plan requirements around three pillars: decision-making, a residential schedule, and dispute resolution. Under Florida Statute 61.13(2)(b), a plan must describe in adequate detail how parents will share daily upbringing tasks. It must also specify the time-sharing schedule and the methods and technologies parents will use to communicate with the child.
Washington is more prescriptive. RCW 26.09.184 requires the plan to allocate decision-making authority over education, health care, and religious upbringing. It also requires a residential schedule naming which home the child sleeps in on every day of the year. That includes holidays, family birthdays, vacations, and other special occasions. A non-court dispute resolution process is mandatory unless domestic violence or abuse makes it unsafe.
Arizona lists seven required elements in A.R.S. § 25-403.02. These include exchange procedures with a named location, transportation responsibility, a periodic review process, and a communication method with stated frequency. For example, a plan might require exchanges at the school office on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. Knowing what to include parenting plan statutes list is step one. Meeting the detail standard is step two, and it is where most self-drafted plans fail.
What to Include Parenting Plan Schedules, Holidays, and Money Details
The residential schedule is the section parents fight over most. Typically, courts want the regular week spelled out by day and hour. Common formats include 2-2-3, week-on/week-off, and alternating weekends with a midweek dinner. Since July 1, 2023, Florida courts start from a rebuttable presumption that equal 50/50 time-sharing is in the child’s best interests. That presumption can be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence on the 20 statutory factors.
Holidays need their own grid. As a result, most plans set a two-year rotation so neither parent loses the same holiday twice. The table below shows a standard structure.
| Provision | Typical Terms |
|---|---|
| Major holidays | Alternate by even/odd years |
| Summer break | 2 to 4 weeks each, chosen by April 1 |
| Spring break | Alternate annually |
| Relocation notice | 60 days written notice in WA, PA, IL, TN |
| Mediation fee | About $65 per party in some Arizona counties |
Financial details belong here too. In most cases, the plan should name who pays for extracurriculars, uninsured medical costs, tutoring, and travel. A common split is 50/50, but income-proportional shares are also used. Deciding what to include parenting plan sections on money prevents small expenses from becoming motions.
Optional Clauses That Prevent Future Litigation
The strongest plans go past the statutory minimum. For example, a right of first refusal clause requires a parent to offer the other parent care time before hiring a sitter. Many plans trigger it at absences over four or eight hours. Add a written definition so the term is enforceable.
Relocation language matters just as much. Illinois requires 60 days’ notice before a move, even in-state, if it exceeds 25 miles. Tennessee requires 60 days’ notice sent by registered or certified mail under Tenn. Code § 36-6-108. Build that notice requirement directly into your plan so both parents see it.
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Other clauses worth adding include a school designation, a passport and international travel rule, a social media and photo-posting rule, and an introduction-of-new-partners waiting period. Also add a schedule step-up for infants and a review date at ages 5, 10, and 13. Deciding what to include parenting plan updates for older children now saves a modification filing later. Draft your terms, run them past a family law attorney, and file the plan with your county clerk. Judges typically approve agreed plans without a contested hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to write a parenting plan?
No, and most states publish free fill-in forms through their court self-help centers. However, an attorney review of one to two hours is worth the cost if assets, relocation, or safety issues exist. Courts will reject plans that are internally inconsistent.
What happens if the other parent violates the plan?
Typically, you file a motion for contempt or enforcement in the court that issued the order. Remedies include makeup parenting time, attorney fees, and in serious cases a modification. Keep a dated log of every missed exchange.
How often can a parenting plan be changed?
In most cases, you must show a substantial change in circumstances since the last order. As a result, courts rarely modify a plan within the first year. Knowing what to include parenting plan review clauses upfront lets you adjust by agreement instead of by motion, and building what to include parenting plan flexibility into the document is far cheaper than litigating it.
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Official Sources & Resources
For verified divorce and family law information:
- State Court Self-Help: usa.gov/state-courts
- ABA Family Law: americanbar.org
- Office of Child Support Enforcement: acf.hhs.gov/css
- Legal Aid Finder: lsc.gov
Content last reviewed August 2026. If you notice any outdated information, please contact us.