Tips on completing a parenting plan
A parenting plan is a written document setting out the details of how your children will be raised and how parenting and decision-making will work after you and your partner separate.
A clear and detailed parenting plan will minimize your former partner’s ability to find loopholes to exploit in order to exercise power and control over both you and the children. This will help to keep you and your children safer.
Family courts use parenting plans, in accordance with the best interests of the children, to help determine the most suitable parenting arrangements. While preparing and presenting a parenting plan is not required by law, including one that is clear, detailed and thorough is very helpful evidence.
Tips on completing your parenting plan
A parenting plan needs to be:
- Clear, concise and written in plain language: The judge will respond positively if yours gets to the point and is easy to read. Use a clean, easy-to-read font and consider using headings to separate the sections that deal with different issues/considerations
- Specific and detailed: You don’t want to leave room for confusion or loopholes, especially if the other parent was/is abusive in any way
- Child-focused: Demonstrate that your primary goal is the best interests of your child
- Honest and realistic: Don’t try to impress the judge by making big promises, or saying that you’re happy to be in constant communication with your ex-partner and don’t think it will be difficult to cooperate with each other if that isn’t truly how you feel
- Reviewed by a lawyer if possible
Evidence do’s and don’ts
A parenting plan needs to have evidence attached. Don’t just say “my ex-husband was abusive” or “I am concerned about leaving Maria alone with my ex because I do not think he is a good parent.” Spell out exactly what happened and why you feel that way.
- Include: photographs (i.e. bruises on you or the child), diaries/journals, emails (printed), text messages or social media posts (screenshot and printed out), legal documents, police records, medical records, calendars, credible witness accounts
- Don’t include: hearsay, gossip, baseless gut feelings, anything that is not attached to a proper affidavit, anything that is exaggerated or misleading information about the other parent’s past conduct that is not directly relevant to the legal issues you are dealing with.
Questions to cover in your plan
- How will you and the other parent communicate?
- Was there family violence?
- What parenting time arrangements do you recommend?
- What are the children’s relationships with other family/community members?
- What will happen during vacation time?
- What about the children’s schooling?
- What about their extracurricular activities?
- What about their religion, culture, language and Indigeneity?
- What about the children’s health and medical care?
- What will happen if one parent needs to relocate?
- Might there be special considerations related to a parent’s occupation?
- What will happen if one parent has a new partner?
- Are there any other issues you may want to include?
Where to get more information
The Luke’s Place toolkit for women, “The Law and Parenting Arrangements after Separation”, provides more details on how to write your parenting plan, as well as other topics related to post-separation parenting. Download the toolkit now!