Village

Parenting Plan Template

A parenting plan is not about dividing a child. It is about giving them two homes that run smoothly, so the small stuff never lands on them. Answer what fits your family and build a clear, printable plan to work from. Nothing is saved or sent.

The parents and children

Parent 1

Parent 2

Children

Where the children live and how big decisions get made

The children primarily live

The bigger choices in a child's life. "Jointly" means you decide together.

Education

Medical & health

Activities

Religion & culture

The regular schedule

The everyday parenting-time rhythm.

Schedule Notes on the schedule (optional) See it on a calendar with the custody calculator

Exchanges and transportation

Where and how the children move between homes.

Usual exchange time

Who transports

Usual exchange location (optional) If a parent cannot be there during their own time

Sometimes called "right of first refusal." It gives the other parent the first chance before a sitter is called.

Holidays and special days

Holidays usually override the regular schedule.

School breaks and summer

Winter break Spring break Summer Notice before vacation or travel time (optional)

Travel and moving

Travel with the children Passports If a parent plans to move

A move can reshape the whole schedule. Agreeing on notice now avoids a scramble later.

Communication

How the parents communicate about the children How the children reach the parent they are not with School and medical records

Health, school, and shared costs

Who carries the children's health insurance (optional) Costs not covered by insurance are split School or district the children attend (optional) Activity and extracurricular costs are split Claiming the children on taxes

Care and the people around the children

Childcare during a parent's time Introducing new partners Extended family

Between two homes

Belongings Routines across homes

When things need to change

If the parents disagree

A simple step before court keeps small disagreements from becoming big ones.

Reviewing the plan

Anything else

Optional. Anything specific to your family that you both want written down.

This is a template to help you write down what you both agree on, not legal advice. A parenting plan is often filed with a court or used in mediation, and the details that make it enforceable vary by where you live. Check what your area requires, and have it reviewed if it needs to hold up in court.

A free tool from Village, the co-parenting app for life beyond conflict.