A parenting plan is a written agreement between two parents who live apart that sets out how they'll raise their child across two homes, the schedule, handovers, money, decision-making, and how they'll communicate. It isn't usually a legal contract on its own, but a clear plan prevents most day-to-day arguments and makes any later legal step easier.
You can start one for free in about seven minutes with dip's Temporary Parenting Agreement. Below is what a good parenting plan covers.
What to include in a parenting plan
1. The schedule and handovers
The core of the plan. Which nights the child is in each home, how holidays and special days split, and exactly how and where handovers happen. If you're still deciding, read how to choose a custody schedule and the common patterns, week-on/week-off, 2-2-3, and 5-2-2-5. Plans also need to flex as children grow, see when to switch schedules.
2. Money and shared costs
Who pays for what, and how shared expenses are settled. The guiding idea is to split costs without keeping score, with clear lines for school fees, medical and dental, and the big expenses vs the small ones.
3. Communication
How you'll talk, how quickly you'll reply, and what information you'll always share. Start with the information-sharing minimum and tone over content. dip's free Tone Check helps keep those messages calm.
4. Decisions and the children
How big decisions get made (school, medical, religion), and how you'll talk to the children about the arrangement, see telling your child you're separating.
Do you need a lawyer or mediator?
A parenting plan you both write is a strong starting point. If you can't agree, a mediator can help you build one, see the parental agreement as a mediation outcome and when the lawyer needs to be involved. dip is not legal advice, so for anything binding, confirm with a family-law professional. You can find help in dip's directory.
Start your parenting plan, free
dip's Temporary Parenting Agreement turns fourteen short questions into a personalised parenting plan you can both refer back to, and the shared calendar keeps the schedule live in both homes. Free for both parents, no ads, no data sale. Browse the full knowledge library for separated families for the detail behind every section.