Post-Separation Parenting Plans
A parenting plan is a written document that sets 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 provides very helpful evidence.
Tips for 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 accessible. 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. Don’t say that you’re happy to be in constant communication with your ex-partner or that you think it will be easy to cooperate with each other if that isn’t truly how you feel.
- Reviewed by a lawyer if possible.
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!
