Parenting plan

Who are the instructions for?

This Instruction is intended for professionals who work with separated or separating parents and who may therefore use the parenting plan as a tool in their practice. The Instruction is a recommendation. A parenting plan is not an official agreement or a legal document.

The Instruction contains the key information about the parenting plan, guidance on drawing it up and on using it in client work with separating parents, and the parenting plan form.

The purpose of the parenting plan is to promote children’s wellbeing by strengthening co-parenting after separation

Professionals may use the parenting plan in their discussions with separating or separated parents. The parenting plan is intended as support and a practical tool for parenting after separation. The plan helps parents to discuss, in a constructive manner, the organization of children’s everyday lives. It enables parents to agree on arrangements and the division of responsibilities so that both know what they are responsible for and what is expected of them.

The parenting plan is also useful in separation situations for families where more than two adults effectively act in parental roles. The plan can be used to support parenting in separation situations in stepfamilies, blended families, and other family forms. Even if the separation affects only some of the parents, it is advisable to involve all parents in the discussion and in drawing up the plan.

Parents may complete the parenting plan independently and bring it with them when attending to make child-related agreements with a child supervisor or for family mediation. A completed plan assists the child supervisor when agreements concerning the child’s custody, residence, day-to-day care and maintenance are drafted and confirmed. Alternatively, a professional may use the parenting plan themselves as a working tool when working with separating parents.

The parenting plan is not an official agreement or a legal document. It does not need to be submitted to the authorities, nor does any authority supervise its implementation.

Content of the parenting plan

The parenting plan is based on the child’s practical needs. The plan sets out the arrangements for the child’s everyday life after separation.

The parenting plan includes the following sections:

Identification of the child’s rights and the parents’ responsibilities
The child’s needs and wishes
Information sharing and communication
Residence arrangements and time spent with the parents
Division of financial responsibility
The child’s schooling and day-care
Other matters related to the child’s everyday life, for example hobbies, healthcare, pets, language and culture, and religious upbringing
Arrangements concerning adolescents

When agreeing on matters concerning an adolescent, discussions on the content of the agreement should be held together with the young person. The agreement may address, for example, choices of study and schooling, hobbies, time spent with friends and outdoors, curfews, parties and festivals, the use of social media, money management and purchases, obtaining a driving license, and substance use.

Drawing up the parenting plan

Drawing up the parenting plan begins by considering the child’s practical needs and the smooth running of everyday life. The questions included in the plan template are designed to help parents consider their child’s specific needs and wellbeing on a practical level and to explore different options and solutions. The plan also considers the child’s future needs.

When preparing the parenting plan, parents must discuss with the child their wishes, thoughts and concerns in a manner appropriate to the child’s age and level of development. Matters concerning adolescents are agreed together with them. Once the child’s needs and wishes are clear, the parents should consider what these mean in terms of practical arrangements and daily life. Recording matters clarifies the plans and promotes commitment to them.

Tips for drawing up the parenting plan

A good plan is practical and supports parents in everyday life. It should feel appropriate to the parents and respond to the specific needs, wishes, and capacities of both the parents and their child.
It is important to ensure that the parents understand the matters recorded in the plan in the same way. When the plan is completed, a copy should be provided to all parents/contracting parties.

The more detailed the plan is, the more useful it will be, but a detailed plan may need to be updated more frequently than a more general plan.
Despite the plan, situations will arise over time that require mutual flexibility from the parents.

When circumstances change and children grow, the plan should be updated. Some parents prefer to record in the plan a date on which it will be reviewed to ensure it remains up to date.

In situations where complying with the parenting plan proves difficult for the parents and agreement on the child’s matters cannot be reached through negotiation, they should be advised to contact the Wellbeing services countie’s child supervisor or a family mediator. Parents should also be informed of the option to apply for judicial mediation of custody disputes at the district court.