Parents raising children in separate households, whether due to divorce or paternity matters, are faced with the difficult, daunting and somewhat unnatural task of memorizing their co-parenting relationship in a legal document—a Parenting Plan. A Parenting Plan, generally, outlines how parents will make decisions regarding their children’s education, health, welfare and extracurricular activities; establishes a regular weekday/weekend schedule for children to share time with each parent; establishes a holiday schedule for children to celebrate with each parent; and outlines appropriate methods of communication between the co-parents and between parents and children.
At times, it is necessary for a judge to determine and prepare a Parenting Plan. High conflict cases, for instance, those involving domestic violence and substance abuse, often require judicial intervention. In these cases, the judge will determine when parents see their children, both during the weekdays/weekends and holidays; set methods for communication, for example, set designated periods of