Creating a Parenting Plan that Will Work~ 3 min read

A parenting plan outlines when each parent has the children, how decisions about their care will be made, and how to handle communication, child support, healthcare, and other expenses. It will serve as a roadmap for your family, ensuring clarity and consistency, and the court will enforce it if disagreements arise.

Why Missouri Requires a Parenting Plan

When you and your spouse begin planning for your children’s future, one of the first things you will need to create is a parenting plan, a structured document that outlines how you will share time, responsibilities, and decision-making for your children. Missouri law requires this plan as part of finalizing custody, and it must include certain elements that help both of you manage daily life with consistency and clarity.

What Your Parenting Plan Will Cover

First and foremost, your parenting plan will include the schedule. This schedule will clearly state who will have the children on specific days. For example, you might have them on Mondays, and your spouse might have them on Tuesdays. It will also address summer plans, vacations, and holidays with exact exchange times and locations.

Your parenting plan will define legal custody whether you share joint legal custody or one of you will have sole decision-making authority. Legal custody determines how decisions are made about schooling, medical care, and other major choices.

You both will also address communication expectations. Your plan might specify using phone calls, texts, or even a formal parenting communication tool. This can help reduce disputes and keep communication clear.

Financial and Health Considerations

A comprehensive parenting plan will also outline how child support and expenses will be handled. This will include:

• How child support payments will be calculated and paid
• Who will provide health insurance and how uncovered medical costs will be shared
• How daycare, camps, or childcare costs will be split
• How additional expenses such as agreed-upon activities will be managed

You might also choose to include provisions about college expenses or how tax deductions related to the children will be allocated.

Who Helps You Create the Parenting Plan

You and your spouse might begin by talking about your needs and priorities. Some people draft ideas individually and then bring them together. Others work with attorneys or use a structured process like Mediation or a Collaborative Divorce to guide discussions. Sometimes, attorneys or collaborative professionals will share a draft of a basic parenting plan to help you visualize what must be included before you customize it together.

When You Will Use the Parenting Plan

If you and your spouse agree on daily routines and decisions as life continues, you might not need to refer to your parenting plan often. But if disagreements arise, the parenting plan will serve as the foundation for how you must handle schedules, decisions, and responsibilities. The court will enforce your plan if either of you does not follow it.

Contact Family Ally

At Family Ally, we help you navigate parenting with care and thoughtfulness. If you are ready to make informed decisions and reduce the need for future court involvement, contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 to schedule a consultation and learn how we can guide you through this process.

Family Ally is located at 130 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 608, St. Louis, MO 63105.

FAQs

1. Will a parenting plan cover holidays and vacations?
Yes. Your plan will outline holiday schedules, vacation time, and summer plans. It creates clarity and helps prevent conflicts.

2. Will the parenting plan include financial responsibilities?
Yes. It will cover child support, healthcare expenses, childcare costs, and additional financial responsibilities so that both parents understand their obligations.

3. Will the parenting plan be enforceable in court?
Yes. The court will enforce the plan if disagreements arise, requiring both parents to follow the agreed-upon terms.