Parenting Plans in Connecticut can vary greatly. Some are quite detailed – others just cover the basics. Many people think that a Parenting Plan is really just limited to a custody or visitation arrangement but it is much more than that.
So, what are the essential elements of Parenting Plan?
At a minimum, every Parenting Plan in Connecticut should address the following:
- Legal custody and other decision making responsibilities concerning education, medical issue, religious upbringing and any other important matters specific to the family;
- Residential custody (where the child lives) and other parenting time arrangements (visitation);
- A schedule for vacations, holidays and other important dates and events;
- How and when the parents will communicate about matters affecting the child;
- Third party child care arrangements;
- Conflict resolution such as mediation or co-parenting counseling;
- Transportation of the child between the parent’s homes; and
- How disciplinary matters will be handled.
Some Parenting Plans are a few pages.
Others can be ten, fifteen or more pages when it is necessary to address unique and very specific parenting issues. The “longer” Parenting Plans are also used when parental conflict is so high that every last detail must be covered or all hell will break loose.
Two other subjects I like covered. There should be language about a parent moving with a child (relocation clause) and there be consequences when a parent fails to follow the Parenting Plan. For example, the non-offending parent gets to make a particular decision or in the event of contempt, the offending parent pays legal fees.
Contact me online or call me in my Stamford office at (203) 356-1475 or in my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 to learn more about Parenting Plans.