Your Parenting Plan

What is a Parenting Plan?

A Parenting Plan is a voluntary agreement between parents that also reflects the wishes of their children.

It can help parents who live apart to work together to make sure that their children's needs are met in the best way possible.

Though both parents can sign their Parenting Plan and should try their best to keep to it, it is NOT a legally binding contract and is not designed to be enforced by the courts .

If you want to make a formal, legal commitment to reflect the agreement you reach, you can ask a solicitor to help you draw up and register a Minute of Agreement.

You can find out more about what the law says on Parental Responsibilities and Rights here.

What's in a Parenting Plan?

All families are different and things change over time, so no two Parenting Plans will be the same.

A Parenting Plan sets out what you agree about some or all of the following:

• Where your children will live and when they will spend time with each parent
• Who else can look after them
• How children can maintain relationships with other people who are important to them
• School and school holidays
• Trips away and special days such as birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations
• Health
• Money matters
• How you will share important information about your children
• How you will review the plan as the child grows up or circumstances change

This isn't an exhaustive list and there may be other areas you'll want to include in your Plan.

There may be things you can't reach agreement on right now, but may want to re-visit in future.

" I can see she's more settled now we're better organised for her."