Part 1 - Parenting Plan Sample
Part 1 - Parenting Plan Sample
Parenting plan template found here: Ontario Divorce and Family Law Highlighted in bold are the sections I feel still need work.
Parenting Plan
BETWEEN
..................... (MOTHER)
AND
..................... (FATHER)
We, ............... and ............., the parents of
................... (date of birth),
................... (date of birth), and
................... (date of birth),
make this Parenting Plan to help us meet our mutual responsibilities as parents and to further the welfare of our children. We are choosing to lessen the impact of our separation on our children by working together in a cooperative manner in our roles as parents.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
We acknowledge that this Plan cannot reflect all future needs of our children or ourselves. We are therefore committed to the spirit reflected in this Parenting Plan and are open to being flexible and willing to discuss and resolve parenting issues as they arise.
We acknowledge that we have a mutually shared interest and responsibility, including shared decision making, for our children's upbringing. We believe that it is in the best interests of our children for both parents to be actively involved in their lives on a regular basis.
GUIDELINES FOR CO-PARENTING
We will try always to stay calm and child-focused when we discuss issues related to our children.
We will speak directly with each other regarding parenting matters, and will not put our children in the middle to carry messages nor any third party.
We will make every effort not to argue in the presence of the children.
We will not speak critically about each other or about each other's parenting in front of our children. We will ask our family and friends to do this as well.
We will keep adult matters such as legal and financial issues firmly between us and away from our children.
We will respect the other parent's right to privacy regarding his/her personal life.
We will encourage our children to have the best relationship possible with the other parent, and will not ask them to choose between us.
We will give each other the benefit of the doubt.
REGULAR PARENTING SCHEDULE
We agree to a 50/50 parenting schedule on a rotating week basis, typically Friday to Friday. The children will spend one week (seven days) in the care of one parent, and the following week in the care of the other parent.
Transitions between the two homes will take place Friday after school, as much as possible, be it by bus, on foot or other means.
To simplify the transitions between the homes, we want to minimize the belongings going between the homes. While the children will be free to take special belongings from one home to another, we will encourage them to have special belongings at both homes. They will have clothes and other necessities at both homes. Some belongings will have to travel between homes such as sports equipment; these can travel with the kids on the Friday at school or be picked up by parent whose weekend it is.
Pick-up or drop-off on non-school days is 9 am. For example, pick-up/drop-off on a PD day would be 9 am.
We will both support a healthy diet and exercise for our children.
The children are free to phone or text the non-residential parent any time (prior to bedtime). That parent may call the children once during the week. Texting to children should be kept to a minimum when with the other parent, with most communication being through the home/cell phone of the other parent.
PARENTING SCHEDULE HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Changes to the schedule may be made with the agreement of both parents.
It is expected that if one parent has out of town or work commitments over
48 hours that the other parent will be informed and the children would then stay with the other parent while gone.
Advance notification by at least two weeks of any extended absences for work commitments will allow to exchange access times. There will be no exchange of access times for periods of absence less than 48 hours.
The Christmas holiday period will be divided into two parts: Week 1, and Week 2.
Week 1 will be the first part of the holiday, and will include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Week 1 will be with the father in even numbered years and with the mother in odd numbered years.
Week 2 is the second part of the holiday, and will include Boxing Day from 9 am, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Week 2 will be with the mother in even numbered years and with the father in odd numbered years.
I am open to ....... input for Thanksgiving, Easter, May 24 weekends either broken into half with both parents or alternating yearly, or any other proposal.
In the school year 2012 - 2013, the following will apply:
Thanksgiving Weekend:
The children will be in the care of their father for two days (Friday – Saturday) and the mother for two days (Sunday-Monday) of long weekend, alternating every year.
Christmas:
The Christmas holiday period will be divided into two parts: Week 1, and Week 2. Week 1 will be the first part of the holiday, and will include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Week 1 will be with the father. Week 2 is the second part of the holiday, and will include Boxing Day from 9 am, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Week 2 will be with the mother.
March School Break:
The March school break in 2013 runs from 11 – 15 March, and will be with the mother since they were with the father in 2012.
Easter:
Easter is defined as the period from after school on the Thursday before Easter until the following Monday at 5:00 p.m. The children will be in the care of their father for the Easter weekend.
May Long Weekend:
Summer:
The summer school holiday will have the children sharing time equally with both parents on the rotating Friday to Thursday schedule, exception being the two consecutive weeks in July and August with both parents. Transition time will be at 9 am, unless the parents mutually agree on another time.
5. The remainder of the summer holiday period will be shared equally so that the children spend alternate weeks in the care of each parent. If there is an extra week, it will be divided so that the children spend half the week with each parent.
We will submit our summer holiday schedule preferences by April 30 of each year. The father will submit his summer holiday choice based on his work schedule. If he is allowed flexibility in planning his summer holidays by his workplace, he will accommodate the mother’s summer choice as much as possible
Labour Day
Labour day and the subsequent school start was with the mother in September 2012 and for 2013 it will be with the father, alternating every year.
Hallowe'en
Regardless of the schedule, arrangements will be made for the children to see both parents on Hallowe'en.
Children's Birthdays:
Children will be with the parent based on the rotating weekly schedule or choice of summer holidays. The non-residential parent is free to call the child on her or his birthday.
Parents' Birthdays:
The children will be with the parent whose birthday it is, from after school to the next day after school if falling on school days; if on a non-school day, children will be with parent whose birthday it is, from 9 am on the birthday till 9 am the next day.
Mother's Day/Father's Day
If the children are not regularly scheduled to be in the care of the parent being recognized, then the children may spend from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. the next day in the care of that parent. The regular schedule will then resume.
RIGHT OF FIRST OPPORTUNITY
If either parent ends up having an extended absence for work commitments or other reasons, then giving plenty of advance notice will help ensure exchange access times. Advance notification by at least two weeks of any extended absences will allow to exchange access times. There will be no exchange of access times for periods of absence less than 48 hours.
If the residential parent will be away for a period of time of two overnights, then the other parent will be first asked if she or he is available to care for the children. If he or she in available, then the children will be cared for by that parent. There will be no expectation by that parent needing the child care to make up for the period of time that he or she is absent.
Any other time a parent requires child care, it will be at his or her discretion regarding our children's upbringing.