Ontario Parenting Plan Information

Whichever form of custody and access you and your former partner are contemplating, a parenting plan can be a useful tool for preventing conflict (see our article: Types of Parenting Arrangements for a detailed description of forms of custody and access.) A parenting plan is an agreement between post-separation parents outlining the specific ways in which each parent will care for and continue to raise their children. A well-prepared parenting plan contemplates both the current and future needs of the children, along with methods to resolve common areas of conflict in post-separation families.

An Ontario family law lawyer is an excellent resource when creating a parenting plan, because your particular circumstances will be noted in a document that is reliable and respectful of the legal rights of both the children and parents involved. While a parenting plan is a legally binding document, it requires a great deal of cooperation in order to ensure compliance and avoid conflict. Post-separation families with high levels of conflict are not well suited to collaborating or negotiating parenting plans without the assistance of an experienced lawyer.

Typically, a well-written parenting plan will outline the following:

• How decisions about a child’s health, education, and wellbeing will be made;
• A reliable and specific schedule detailing where the child will reside on any given day;
• What methods will be used to meet the child’s physical, emotional, and psychological needs;
• How parents should communicate with each other about parenting issues – for example, via email, over the phone, or in a parenting journal that travels with the children;
• How parents will resolve their future disagreements about parenting: mediation, arbitration, or collaboration;
• What each party expects from the other in terms of discipline and daily routines; and
• The right of first refusal (if a parent is unable to care for the child during their regularly scheduled access time).

Be Specific & Clear in Your Access Schedule

Access schedules are most beneficial when they are specific. A well-prepared schedule details the days and hours each parent spends with the children and includes pick up and drop off information. Detailed and recurrent schedules are helpful when planning future events and will also provide children with a sense of routine. In addition to daily access, a parenting plan should outline parental access for holidays and special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and birthdays.

For more information, call (905) 581-7222 to speak with a lawyer at Feldstein Family Law Group P.C.