Please note that this is an example parenting plan for a young child who predominately lives with the mother. It allows for increased contact with the father as the child gets older. If you are intending to use this plan as a template, read it very carefully before signing! I have changed any text that may require editing to a blue colour, but I may have missed text so again, please double check everything before signing. Credit goes to 'dad4life' ( for providing the original example.
I hope this is of use to you,
Sean Sullivan
PS. You will of course want to delete this text if using this as a template.
PARENTINGPLANEXAMPLE
Between
Full name of Father / and / Full name of Mother(Husband/Father) / (Wife/Mother)
Of Address / Of Address
Date of Parenting Plan :
By Consent the parties agree:
Introduction
1.Thatthechildnamed inthisagreement,hastherighttoenjoythelove,careand affectionofbothherMother,Fatherandotherextendedfamilymembersandto experiencethisintimespentwiththem;and
2.Thatthiswill contributetothemaintenance andenhancementofherself-esteem, socialdevelopment,welfare,academicperformance,personalempowerment,Christian faith, adjustmenttoand satisfactionwithlife,andthedevelopmentofpositiveandrealisticinteractionswithbothfamilies.
Children’s issues
3.Thereisonechildfromtherelationship,Child’sName,bornatHospitalonthe20thof
June2003, and currently aged3yearsand11months.
4.Thatbothparentshavejoint responsibilityforanyandallmattersrelatingtothelong termcareanddevelopmentofthechild.
5.That although the mother and father have joint responsibility for the long term care and development of the child, each parent will retain responsibility for the day to day care and welfare while the child is in their respective care.
6.Thatthechildliveswiththemother.
Timesthechildwillspendwithherfather
7.Untilthechild reachestheageof4yearsand 3months-20/9/07
(a)From4:30pmuntil 6:30pmeach TuesdayandThursday.
(b)EachalternateSaturdayfrom10amuntil5:00pm.
(c)Atall other timesagreedto by bothparties.
8.From20/9/07until20/12/07
(a)From4:30pmuntil 6:30pmeach TuesdayandThursday.
(b)From10amSaturdayuntil5:00pmSundayeachalternateweekend.
(c)Atall othertimesagreedtobybothparties.
9.From20/12/07until20/3/08
(a)From4:30pmuntil6:30pmeach Tuesday.
(b)From4:30pmFridayuntil 5:00pmSundayeachalternateweekend.
(c)For aperiodoffive (5) hoursonChristmas Dayat timesagreedby both parties,in defaultofagreementshallbebetween1:00pmand6:00pm.
(d)Foraperiodoffive(5)consecutivedaysduringthenormalChristmas school holidaysat timesagreedtobybothparties,in defaultof agreementshallcommenceat10amonFridaythe4thofJanuaryuntil 10amon Wednesdaythe9thof January2008.
(e)Intheevent thatthetimesreferredtoin clause9(d)fallsoutsidethealternate weekendtimethechildnormallyspendswiththefather, thenthistime will besuspended forthepurposeof thisholidaytimeandrecommence2weeks followingat 4:30pmFriday.
(f)Atallother timesagreedtoby bothparties.
10. FromTuesday20/3/2008untilthechild commencesprimaryschool
(a)From4:30pmuntil 6:30pmeach Tuesday.
(b)From4:30pmFridayuntil 5:00pmSundayeachalternateweekend.
(c)Forhalfof allnormalschoolholidaysasagreedbybothpartieswhenthefathercanbe in substantialattendance;indefaultofagreement commencingat 5:00pmonthedayafter schoolbreaksforthefirsthalf oftheholidays.
(d)Duetothefathers currentwork commitments asthesoleemployedparent, there maybetimeswhenheisunabletobein substantialattendanceduringschoolterm breaks.Whenthis situation arises,if noothersuitablefamilymember, thePaternal Grandmotheror thePaternal Auntcanbeinsubstantialattendance,school holidaycontact willbesuspendedand normalalternateweek timeswill continueand;
(e)Thefatherundertakestogivenoticetothemother in writing45dayspriortoschool holidaysif he or thosementionedin 10(c) will beunabletobe in substantialdaytime attendance asoutlinedin clause10(d).
(f)That thetimethechildnormallyspendsweeklywiththefatherbesuspendedduring term breakandwillrecommenceonthefirstFridayof thenewschool termexceptin circumstancesoutlinedin clause10(e).
(g)Foraperiodof4hoursoneachof thechildren’sandFather’sbirthdayas agreed between the partiesandin defaultof agreement, from12 pmuntil4:00pmonthefirst Saturdayimmediatelyfollowingthebirthdate.
(h)Onfather’sday from5:00pmtheeveningbeforeuntil5:00pmontheday it falls where Father’s day fallsoutsidenormal fortnightlyarrangements.
(i)For5 hoursonChristmasday, at timesagreedto byboth parties,in defaultofagreementwillcommence from2pmuntil7pm.
(j)Atallother timesagreed bybothparties.
11. Oncethechild hascommencedattending primaryschool
(a)From5:00pmThursdayuntil5:00pmWednesdayeach alternateweek.
(b)Forhalfof all normalschoolholidaysasagreedbybothparties, in default ofagreement commencingat5:00pmonthedayafterschoolbreaksforthefirsthalf.
(c)IftheEasterschoolholidayfallsoutsidethenormalschooltermbreak, thatayearaboutarrangementisenteredinto,commencingin 2009or anyfollowingyearitfirstoccurs,withthemother.
(d)Foraperiodof4hoursoneachthechild’sandFather’s birthdayasagreed between the partiesandin default ofagreement,from12pmuntil 4:00pmonthefirstSaturday immediately followingthe birthdate.
(e)Christmas andBoxing Dayalternatingeachyearat timesagreedtobybothparties, commencing Christmasday 2009withthemother. Indefault ofagreement time will commence at10amandconcludeat 7pm oneitherday.
12. That thetimesthechild spend withthefatherbesuspended:
(a)Foraperiodof4hoursoneachof thechildren’sandMothersbirthdayas agreed between the partiesandin defaultof agreement, from12 pmuntil4:00pmonthefirst Saturdayimmediatelyfollowingthebirthdate.
(b)OnMothersdayfrom5:00pmtheeveningbeforeuntil 5:00pmonthedayitfalls where Mothersday fallsoutsidenormal fortnightlyarrangements.
EducationandSchool issues
13. Thatbothparentsbe abletoattendschool,Pre-Schoolatall timesnormally attendedbyparents,parent teachernights,schoolconcerts,sportsdaysandthelike andthefathertoprovidetheschool,Pre-School withanumber ofstampedself addressedenvelopestoreceivecopy’sofallcorrespondence,schoolreportsetc.
14. Thatbothparentsbe placedontheschoolemergencycontactlistequally andin goodfaithanddo all thingspossibletomakejointdecisionsregardingemergencyorotherserioushealthmatters.
15. That thechildattendsStBridget’s PrimarySchool inCaulfieldastheMother’sother childrenhavedoneandremainsthereuntil shecompletesher primaryschooleducation.
16. That theparentschoosethehighschoolthechildwill attendjointlyandwithgoodwill inherbestinterestsgivingregardtobothparentsabilitytopaythefeesrequired.
17. That thefatherwillpurchaseadditionalschooluniformstobeusedwhilethechildis inhiscare.
Health
18. That themother andfatherdoall thingsreasonableas soonaspossibletoprovide detailsofallmedicaldiagnosisand treatmentinrelationtothechildwhileintheir respectivecare.
19. That themother andfatherdoall thingsreasonabletoensurethat they keepeach otheraccuratelyinformedofall thingsinregardtotheirstateofhealth,especiallywhere thiswouldimpactonherabilitytocareforthechildren.
20. Thatif eitherthemother orfather,areincapacitatedbyinjuryorillnesstoadegreethatwouldimpact ontheirabilitytocareeffectivelyforthechild, thenthechildrenwould becaredforbytheotheruntilthatparentisjudgedmedicallyfittoresumenormal parentalresponsibility.
21. Thatsaveinanemergency,bothparentsdoallthingsreasonabletoinform the otherinwritingpriortomakingany decisionsrelatingtomajorhealthor otherconcerns inrelationtothechildren.
Timesthechildcommunicates withbothparents
22. Thechildshouldbefreetocommunicatewitheitherparentbyphone,email orother meansatreasonabletimesoftheirchoosing,however,bothparentswill refrainfrom contactingthechildbyphoneor textmorethantwiceper week,unlessinanemergency, attimesbetween5:00pmand5:30pmorany othertimeagreedtobytheparents.
Otherissues
23. Thatintheeventthattheparentsexperiencedifficultycommunicatingoverissues relatingtothe child, thenacommunicationdiarybejointlypurchased andpassed betweentheparentsatchangeover.Issuescanbediscussedinwritingpriorto relying onthedefaultclauses containedinthisagreement
24. Thatbothparentsrefrainfrompassingmessagesthroughthechildandusethe communicationdiarywithgood will tocommunicateinregardtochildren’sissues.
25. ThatbothparentsagreetoattendmediationarrangedbythefatherattheFrankston
FamilyRelationshipCentreinJunetodiscussandresolvechildren’sissues
26. Thateitherparentbenotifiedinwritingatleast 30dayspriortoanyplanedchange ofresidentialaddressofthechildorproposedinterstatetraveland60dayspriortoany proposedoverseastravelinvolvingthechild.
27. Thatneitherparentwill takethechildto resideoutsidethestateofVictoriaor toa distancethatwouldnecessitateachangeofschool.
28. Thatthechildshouldnotbeplacedinthecareofanotherpersonon anovernight basiswithout givingtheotherparentfirstpriority.
29. Thatareviewofthisparentingagreementtakeplaceviaprofessional mediationwhenthechildreachestheageof13,withaviewtogivingconsiderationtoher wishes regardingthetimeshespendswithbothparentsandherlivingarrangements.
30. Thatbothparentsagreetoparticipateinand completeaparentingcoursewhich containsmodulesdesignedtohelpimprove skillsincooperativeparentingafter separation suchas.(eg.GordonCare“StandbyMe”)
31. Thatif adisputearisesbetweenthepartiesoverthisagreementinthefuture,that bothagreetoactwithgoodwill andattempt toresolveissuesthroughprofessional mediationpriortotakinglegalaction.
32. Thatbothparentshaveliberty toapplytocourtafterdue considerationofclause31.
Child financial Support
33.Asper ChildSupportAgencyassessment.
signed……………………………………….Date……………………… Father
signed……………………………………….Date……………………… Mother
Father’ssolicitoror………………………………………….
Witness1
Mother’ssolicitoror………………………………………….
Witness2
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______/ ______Father - Father's Name / Mother - Mother's Name