Parenting plan template: a free printable plan, and how to fill in each section
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- A parenting plan sets out where your children live and when, how holidays and exchanges work, who makes major decisions, and how disagreements are settled. The free template on this page covers these in 12 sections you can print and fill in.
- Check your court’s own form first. Many states and courts publish a parenting plan form, and some states list in law what a plan must contain, so a general template is a starting point, not a replacement.
- The template follows the order of Oregon’s official Basic Parenting Plan form, and a table shows which sections match the minimum contents in Arizona’s parenting plan statute.
- Once a judge approves a parenting plan it is a court order. Parents can often agree temporary swaps, but a permanent change goes back to the court as a modification.
- Keep the schedule simple and specific, write in what is already working, and leave room for the children to grow.
- What is a parenting plan?
- What should a parenting plan include?
- What does a parenting plan template look like?
- How do you write the weekly custody schedule?
- How should holidays, school breaks and summer be handled?
- What should the plan say about exchanges?
- Who makes decisions about the children?
- How will you keep in touch with the children, and about them?
- What about babysitters, other caregivers and the right of first refusal?
- What happens if a parent wants to move?
- What happens when parents cannot agree?
- Does a parenting plan cover child support and expenses?
- How do you make a parenting plan official, and change it later?
- Frequently asked questions
What is a parenting plan?
A parenting plan is a written plan for raising your children after you and the other parent live apart: where the children are on which days, how holidays and exchanges work, who makes the major decisions, and what happens when something changes or goes wrong. It starts as a proposal or an agreement between parents, and once a judge approves it, it becomes a court order. Oregon’s official Basic Parenting Plan form shows this in its first line, where the plan can be marked as proposed by one parent, agreed upon by both parents, or ordered by the court.
Two ideas run through almost every plan. One is decision-making, often called legal custody: the Oregon form labels its major decisions section “Legal Custody”, and Arizona calls it legal decision-making. The other is the time schedule, often called physical custody: Arizona’s law calls it parenting time, and Washington’s calls it residential provisions.
The rules for what a plan must contain come from your state. Under Arizona’s parenting plan statute, A.R.S. 25-403.02, if parents cannot agree, each parent must submit a proposed plan, and the court adopts a plan consistent with the child’s best interests. Other states set their own requirements, so read this guide as general information, not legal advice.
The Oregon form opens with a warning worth repeating here: the terms of your parenting plan will affect your legal rights and responsibilities, and the form tells parents to consult an attorney or caseworker before filing it with the court.
What should a parenting plan include?
At a minimum, a parenting plan should cover the weekly schedule, holidays and school breaks, exchanges, decision-making, how the children and parents keep in touch, moves, and how changes and disputes are handled. Arizona lists the minimum contents in its statute, and Washington’s permanent parenting plan law, RCW 26.09.184 requires provisions for resolving future disputes, allocating decision-making authority, and where the child lives.
The template on this page has 12 sections. They follow the order of Oregon’s form, and the table shows which of them match Arizona’s minimum list. A section marked “not in the list” is still worth filling in. It just is not one of the items Arizona’s statute names.
| Template section | What you decide | A.R.S. 25-403.02(C) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Goals for the children | What you both want for the children | Not in the list |
| 2. The children | Names, ages and anything particular to each child | Not in the list |
| 3. Weekly schedule | Which days and nights the children spend with each parent | Item 3, a practical schedule |
| 4. Holidays, breaks and summer | Who has which holidays, school breaks and vacation time | Item 3, including holidays and school vacations |
| 5. Exchanges | Where and when the children are handed over, and who drives | Item 4, location and transportation |
| 6. Decisions | Day-to-day decisions, and who makes major ones | Items 1 and 2, joint or sole, and each parent’s responsibilities |
| 7. Keeping in touch | The children’s calls with the other parent, and how parents pass on information | Item 7, methods and frequency |
| 8. Caregivers and activities | Babysitters, first call when a parent is away, activities, missed time | Not in the list |
| 9. Moving | Notice before either parent moves | Item 5, relocation |
| 10. Changes and review | Temporary changes, permanent changes and regular reviews | Items 5 and 6 |
| 11. Disputes | What you try before going back to court | Item 5, which may include mediation or counseling |
| 12. Signatures | Both parents sign and date the plan | Not in the list |
Arizona’s statute adds one point that surprises many parents: shared legal decision-making does not necessarily mean equal parenting time. Decisions and the schedule are two separate parts of the plan, and one does not decide the other.
A state form is often the better starting point when your court has one. Oregon’s Basic Parenting Plan Guide describes its form as a master form with check boxes and simple choices that offers opportunities throughout to customize the provisions, and says it can be filled in online and printed, or printed blank and filled in by hand.
What does a parenting plan template look like?
This is a general template you can print and fill in by hand. Use your browser’s print command to print this page, write in the blank boxes, and cross out anything that does not fit your family. It uses “Parent A” and “Parent B” so you can decide which parent is which. If your court has its own form, use that form for filing and use this one to work out your answers first.
1. Goals for our children
| Goal | In our words |
|---|---|
| What matters most for our children right now | |
| What we want to keep the same for them |
2. Our children
| Name | Date of birth | Anything particular (school, health, needs) |
|---|---|---|
3. Weekly schedule
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Days and times with Parent A | |
| Days and times with Parent B | |
| Does the schedule change in summer? How? | |
| School days: who takes the children to school, who picks them up |
4. Holidays, school breaks and summer
| Holiday or break | Even years | Odd years | Start and end times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | |||
| Winter break | |||
| Spring break | |||
| Summer | |||
| Children’s birthdays | |||
| Mother’s Day and Father’s Day | |||
| Other: ______ |
Also write down whether holiday time replaces the weekly schedule on those days, and what happens to the regular weekend that falls next to a holiday.
5. Exchanges
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Where exchanges happen | |
| Exchange times | |
| Who drives, each way | |
| How late is late (minutes), and how a delay is reported | |
| What travels with the children (clothing, medication, schoolwork) |
6. Decisions
| Decision | Joint, Parent A or Parent B |
|---|---|
| Day-to-day decisions and emergencies | |
| Education | |
| Non-emergency health care | |
| Religious upbringing | |
| Where the children live | |
| Access to school and medical records |
7. Keeping in touch
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Children’s calls or video with the other parent: when and how | |
| How parents pass on information about the children (one channel) | |
| How quickly a message about the children gets an answer |
8. Caregivers and activities
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| People who may look after the children | |
| People who may not | |
| If a parent is away for more than ___ hours, the other parent is asked first | |
| Activities: who signs the children up, and how the other parent’s time is affected | |
| Missed time because a child is ill: made up or not, agreed in writing or not |
9. Moving
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Notice before a move of more than ___ miles | |
| How notice is given |
10. Changes and review
| Term | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Temporary swaps: agreed by message, in writing, or verbally | |
| We will review this plan every ___ months | |
| Permanent changes go through the court |
11. Disputes
| Step | Fill in |
|---|---|
| First, we try to settle it ourselves by: ______ | |
| Then a named mediator, counselor or other professional: ______ | |
| Emergencies and safety concerns go straight to the court |
12. Signatures
| Parent | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Parent A | ||
| Parent B |
How do you write the weekly custody schedule?
Write the weekly schedule as days and times, not intentions. “Parent B has the children every other weekend, Friday 5 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m.” can be followed and checked. “Reasonable time” cannot, and it leaves every week open to argument.
Oregon’s How Do I Get Started? sheet gives a few rules worth starting from. A simple schedule is easier for children to adjust to. Consistency and predictability are important for children. And it suggests you figure out what is working now and continue it in your plan, and change what is not working.
Children’s needs change as they get older, and a plan written for a toddler rarely fits a teenager. Oregon publishes sample schedules for each age group, with guidance for writing an age-appropriate schedule. Washington’s law lists, among a plan’s objectives, providing for the child’s changing needs as the child grows and matures, in a way that minimizes the need for future modifications. A clause that steps the schedule up at a set age is one way to do that.
Our guide to common custody schedule examples covers 2-2-3, alternating weeks and the unequal schedules, with how each is written into a plan.
How should holidays, school breaks and summer be handled?
List every holiday and school break that matters to your family, then say who has the children, from what time to what time, and whether it alternates by year. Arizona’s minimum list asks for a practical schedule of parenting time, including holidays and school vacations, and Oregon’s form gives summer, and school breaks and holidays, a section each, plus an attachment for additional holidays or special days for this family.
Think about the days your family actually marks: a religious holiday, a grandparent’s birthday, a yearly trip. A standard list is a starting point, and the plan will likely be in place for years.
“When your attorney prepares a proposed Parenting Plan, they will often include the standard holidays in the family law form. However, it’s important to remember that once a Parenting Plan is established, it is likely to be in place for a long time. Therefore, don’t hesitate to customize the plan to make it uniquely yours.”
Our guide to building a holiday parenting schedule covers the common ways to divide holidays, how alternating years work, and what to include for each day.
What should the plan say about exchanges?
Say where the children are handed over, at what time, and who drives each way. Arizona’s statute requires a procedure for exchanges of the child, including location and responsibility for transportation.
Oregon’s form adds terms that prevent the most common arguments. Its timeliness clause has parents fill in how many minutes of the scheduled time each parent must arrive within. Another clause says the children should be ready with the clothing they need and any necessary medications at the scheduled time of exchange.
Our guide to custody exchange rules and locations covers where exchanges usually happen, supervised exchanges, and what to note about each handover.
Who makes decisions about the children?
Most plans split decisions in two. Oregon’s form has each parent make day-to-day decisions while caring for the children, including emergency decisions about their health or safety. Major decisions, which the form says include the children’s residence, education, non-emergency health care and religious training, are made jointly or by one parent.
Arizona requires the plan to say whether legal decision-making is joint or sole, and to describe each parent’s rights and responsibilities in areas such as education, health care and religious training. Oregon’s form warns that choosing joint or sole custody may have important legal consequences, and encourages parents to speak to an attorney before deciding.
Records are worth a line of their own. Unless a court order says otherwise, Oregon’s form gives both parents equal rights to consult anyone who provides care or treatment for the children, and to inspect and receive their medical, dental and psychological records. In Washington, the court may also consider the cultural heritage and religious beliefs of a child when it sets a permanent plan.
How will you keep in touch with the children, and about them?
Keeping in touch covers two separate things: the children’s contact with the parent they are not with, and how the parents pass on information about the children. Arizona requires the plan to set out how the parents will be in touch with each other about the child, including methods and frequency. Oregon’s form has a space for rules on phone calls, letters, email or other contact between parent and child.
Be specific. A set time for the children’s evening call, one channel for messages about school and health, and a reasonable time to answer will head off more trouble than a general promise to stay in touch. Washington lists minimizing the child’s exposure to harmful parental conflict among the objectives of a plan, and clear contact rules serve that directly.
What about babysitters, other caregivers and the right of first refusal?
Say who can look after the children when a parent cannot, and whether the other parent gets asked first. Oregon’s alternate care section sets ground rules for babysitters, day care providers and other caregivers, and includes an option that if a parent is unable to be with the children during scheduled parenting time, the other parent is the first choice to care for them. That kind of clause is often called a right of first refusal. The same section lets parents list who may, and who may not, provide care.
Two related terms belong here. Oregon’s form covers children’s activities, such as sports, clubs and music, and asks whether activities that affect the other parent’s schedule must be coordinated. It also covers missed time: when a child is too ill to spend time with a parent, there is no make-up time unless the parents agree.
Our guide to how a right of first refusal works covers what the clause should say, how many hours should trigger it, and its pros and cons.
What happens if a parent wants to move?
Write a notice rule into the plan so a move never arrives as a surprise. Oregon’s form says that, unless a court order says otherwise, neither parent may move more than 60 miles further away from the other without giving a set number of days’ notice and filing a copy of the notice with the court. Arizona includes relocation among the matters the plan’s change and dispute procedure must cover, and its relocation rules sit in a separate section, 25-408.
When parents already live far apart, a basic plan may not fit. Oregon has a separate form designed for parents who live more than 60 miles away from each other.
Our guide to moving out of state with joint custody covers what counts as a relocation, what happens when the other parent agrees, and what a petition to relocate contains.
What happens when parents cannot agree?
Name a step before court. Oregon’s dispute resolution clause has parents try to work out disputes on their own, with court action only as a last resort, and offers an option to use a mutually agreed neutral third party, such as a mediator or counselor, before filing. That option does not apply in an emergency or abusive situation.
Washington’s law requires a permanent plan to contain provisions for resolving future disputes, and says a dispute resolution process may include counseling, mediation, or arbitration by a specified individual or agency, or court action. In Arizona, if the parents cannot agree on any element of the plan, the court decides that element.
Our guide to preparing for custody mediation covers what a mediator can decide, what to bring, and how to arrive with a written plan.
Does a parenting plan cover child support and expenses?
This template does not set child support, and a parenting plan form often does not either. Under 42 U.S.C. § 667, every state must establish guidelines for child support amounts, and in any proceeding the amount those guidelines produce is presumed to be correct, a presumption that can be rebutted.
Ask your court or attorney how support is set in your case before writing cost terms into the plan. If you and the other parent agree how to share costs such as activities, write it down plainly, and check how it fits with any support order.
How do you make a parenting plan official, and change it later?
Both parents sign and date the plan, and it is filed with the court in your case. Once a judge orders it, it is a court order. Oregon’s signature line reads as each parent’s statement that they have read and agree with what has been decided and written in the document.
Changes come in two kinds. Oregon’s form allows temporary changes to the schedule at any time if both parents agree ahead of time, and includes an option that lets parents agree to those temporary changes verbally. Permanent changes are different: the form says they can be made only by applying to the court for a modification, and that one parent cannot change a court-ordered parenting plan on their own. Arizona also asks for a procedure for periodic review of the plan’s terms by the parents.
Our guide to changing a parenting plan covers which changes can be agreed between parents and which have to go through the court.
Whatever the plan says, it is a plan. Your own dated notes of how it works in practice, the exchanges that happened, the swaps you agreed, the days that went well, are what show how it is really going. Our guide to organizing evidence for a custody case covers how to keep those notes so an attorney can use them.
Documented keeps a private, dated record of your own days with your kids, sealed and time-stamped as you write it. When you look back at how a parenting plan is working, you have what actually happened, not only what the plan said. Learn how it works →
What this guide does not cover
- Your court’s required form. Many courts have their own parenting plan form or required wording, and this template does not replace it.
- Safety concerns. If there is domestic violence or another serious safety concern, a basic plan may not be the right tool; Oregon, for example, points parents to a separate Safety Focused Parenting Plan.
- Child support amounts, which are set under your state’s guidelines rather than by this template.
- The detail of long-distance and relocation cases, which have their own rules and forms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a parenting plan?
A parenting plan is a written plan, agreed by the parents or ordered by a court, that sets out the children’s schedule, holidays, exchanges, decision-making, and how changes and disputes are handled. Once a judge approves it, it becomes a court order.
What should be included in a parenting plan?
A weekly schedule, holidays and school breaks, exchanges, decision-making, how parents keep in touch about the children, moves, and how changes and disputes are handled. Arizona, for example, lists minimum contents in A.R.S. 25-403.02, and other states set their own rules.
Is a parenting plan legally binding?
Once a judge approves or orders it, a parenting plan is a court order. Oregon’s form, for example, says one parent cannot change a court-ordered parenting plan on their own. Whether an agreement that was never filed binds you depends on your state, so ask an attorney.
How do you change a parenting plan?
Oregon’s form allows temporary changes when both parents agree ahead of time, but permanent changes only by applying to the court for a modification. Check your own state’s rules before relying on an informal change.
How do you write a parenting plan for court?
Start with your court’s own form if it has one, fill in every section with specific days and times, have both parents sign it if you agree, and file it as your court directs. Oregon’s form tells parents to consult an attorney or caseworker before filing.
How we researched this
We read 7 sources for this guide: three Oregon Judicial Department publications, including its official Basic Parenting Plan form, the Arizona and Washington parenting plan statutes, the federal child support guidelines statute, and one family law practice article. Every factual claim was checked against the passage it comes from before publishing, and a claim we could not trace to a source was cut. Attorney quotes are reproduced word for word from the firm’s own published page. How our guides are written.
References
Law firm pages are cited for the quoted passages only.
- Oregon Judicial Department. (2008). Basic Parenting Plan Form. Retrieved from https://www.courts.oregon.gov/ PDF
- Oregon Judicial Department. (n.d.). How Do I Get Started?. Retrieved from https://www.courts.oregon.gov/ PDF
- Oregon Judicial Department. (n.d.). Basic Parenting Plan Guide. Retrieved from https://www.courts.oregon.gov/
- Arizona State Legislature. (n.d.). A.R.S. 25-403.02: Parenting plans. Retrieved from https://www.azleg.gov/
- Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). RCW 26.09.184: Permanent parenting plan. Retrieved from https://app.leg.wa.gov/
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. (n.d.). 42 U.S. Code § 667: State guidelines for child support awards. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/
- Beresford Booth. (2025). Holidays in Parenting Plans. Retrieved from https://beresfordlaw.com/
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