12 Parenting Plan Examples (With Sample Wording You Can Copy)
One of the hardest parts of writing a parenting plan is knowing how to word it. You know what you want, but turning it into clear, enforceable language is daunting. Seeing real examples helps enormously. Below are twelve example clauses covering the core areas of a parenting plan, with sample wording you can adapt to your own family. Treat these as starting points — every family is different, and you should have a final plan reviewed by a family law professional before it becomes a court order.
Want to see this schedule on a real calendar? Our free Custody Schedule Calendar builds it for your dates in under a minute. Print it or share it with your co-parent.
Try the free calendar tool →What Makes a Good Parenting Plan Clause?
Before the examples, one principle ties them all together: good clauses are specific. Vague language — "the parents will share holidays reasonably" — is the single most common cause of later disputes, because "reasonable" means different things to each parent. Strong clauses name dates, times, locations, and what happens if something goes wrong. The examples below are written that way on purpose.
1. Custody Schedule Clause
The children shall reside with each parent on an alternating basis under a 5-2-2-5 schedule. Parent A shall have the children each Monday and Tuesday; Parent B shall have the children each Wednesday and Thursday; and the parents shall alternate Friday 3:00 PM through Monday 8:00 AM, beginning with Parent A on the first full weekend after this plan takes effect.
Always tie your schedule to a concrete start point so the rotation is never ambiguous. For the full range of schedules to choose from, see our custody schedule comparison guide.
2. Handover (Exchange) Clause
Exchanges shall take place at the children's school at the start and end of the school day where possible. On non-school days, exchanges shall occur at [neutral location] at the times set out in the schedule. The receiving parent shall be responsible for transportation. Each parent shall ensure the children's belongings, medications, and school items travel with them.
A school-based handover removes direct contact between parents — useful in higher-conflict situations. See making handovers easier.
3. Holiday Schedule Clause
The parents shall alternate the following holidays each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's. In even-numbered years, Parent A shall have Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; in odd-numbered years, Parent B shall. Holiday time supersedes the regular schedule. Each parent shall have the children for [number] weeks during summer vacation, dates to be confirmed by April 1 each year.
Holidays cause more conflict than any other area — be exhaustive. Our holiday custody schedule guide covers this in depth.
4. Communication Clause
The parents shall communicate about the children primarily in writing through [co-parenting app / email]. Routine messages shall be responded to within 24 hours; urgent matters affecting the children's safety or health shall be communicated by phone immediately. Communication shall remain respectful and child-focused at all times.
For more sample language here, see our sample parenting plan communication clauses.
5. Decision-Making (Legal Custody) Clause
The parents shall share joint legal custody and shall consult with each other on all major decisions regarding the children's education, non-emergency medical care, and religious upbringing. Day-to-day decisions shall be made by the parent with whom the children are residing at the time. In the event of an emergency, the parent present shall make necessary decisions and notify the other parent as soon as practicable.
See joint versus sole custody for how decision-making authority is structured.
6. Right of First Refusal Clause
If either parent is unable to personally care for the children for a period exceeding [4] hours during their scheduled time, that parent shall first offer the other parent the opportunity to care for the children before arranging alternative childcare.
This keeps children with a parent rather than a babysitter when possible — but set the threshold sensibly, or it becomes a source of micromanagement.
Turn this schedule into a written agreement
A schedule only reduces conflict once it is written down. The Complete Co-Parenting Kit includes the fillable parenting agreement with a ready-made schedule section, holiday rotation clauses, and a guide to completing every part. Most parents finish it in one evening.
See the Kit ($297)Delivered by email. 30-day money-back guarantee.
7. Medical Clause
Both parents shall have full access to the children's medical records and the right to consult with treating providers. The parent with the children shall ensure they attend scheduled medical and dental appointments. Each parent shall notify the other of any illness, injury, or medical appointment within [24] hours.
More detail in our guide to communicating medical information with your co-parent.
8. School and Activities Clause
Both parents shall be listed as emergency contacts and shall have equal access to school records, reports, and events. The parent with the children on a given day shall ensure they attend school and complete homework. Decisions about new extracurricular activities, and the sharing of related costs, shall be made jointly.
9. Travel and Vacation Clause
Either parent may travel domestically with the children during their scheduled time, providing the other parent with an itinerary and contact information at least [7] days in advance. International travel requires the written consent of both parents, who shall cooperate in obtaining and sharing the children's passports.
10. Relocation Clause
Neither parent shall relocate the children's primary residence more than [50] miles or out of state without first providing [60] days' written notice and obtaining either the other parent's written consent or a court order.
Relocation is a major issue — see our relocation and custody guide.
11. Dispute Resolution Clause
Before filing any motion to modify or enforce this plan, the parents shall first attempt to resolve the dispute through mediation with a neutral, mutually agreed mediator, sharing the cost equally, except in cases involving the safety of a child.
A mediation-first clause keeps minor disagreements out of court. Compare the routes in our mediation versus litigation guide.
12. Review and Modification Clause
The parents shall review this plan [annually / when the youngest child reaches age 6 and again at age 13] to ensure it continues to meet the children's developmental needs. Either parent may request a review at any time if circumstances change substantially.
A review clause is essential because the right arrangement changes as children grow — see our best custody schedules by age guide.
How Do You Turn These Examples Into a Complete Plan?
These twelve clauses cover the backbone of a parenting plan, but a full document weaves them together and adds the details specific to your family. Our step-by-step guide to creating a parenting plan that actually works walks through the whole process, and our parenting plan template guide explains what each section should contain.
For ready-to-use, fillable templates with this kind of wording already drafted, our Parenting Agreement Toolkit gives you a complete, editable document plus a guide to every clause — so you are adapting professional language rather than writing from a blank page. Whatever route you take, have your final plan reviewed by a family law professional before it is signed or submitted to a court.
Keep reading on this topic
- The 3-3-4-4 Custody Schedule: How It Works, Calendar Examples, Pros & ConsThe 3-3-4-4 schedule gives each parent the same weekdays every single week — the most predictable 50/50 rotation there is. Here's the calendar, the pros and cons, and who it actually suits.
- The 4-4-3 Custody Schedule: How the 4+4+3 Rotation Works (With Calendar)Seen '4+4+3' mentioned and wondered what it means? It's a rotating shared-care schedule built from four- and three-day blocks. Here's the calendar, who it suits, and its trade-offs.
- The 5-2 Custody Schedule: How It Works, Calendar Examples, Pros & ConsThe 5-2 schedule gives one parent five fixed days a week and the other the same two — usually the weekend. Simple, stable, and often the right stepping stone. Here's how it works.
- The Best Custody Schedules by Age: From Toddlers to TeensThe right custody schedule changes as your child grows. What works for a toddler can frustrate a teenager. Here's how to match the arrangement to your child's developmental stage.
- Every Other Weekend: How the Standard Visitation Schedule WorksThe most common arrangement in US family courts: one parent has primary residence and the other has alternating weekends, often with a weekday evening. Here's how it really works.
- How to Choose the Right Custody Schedule for Your FamilyThere is no single best custody schedule — only the one that fits your child's age, your geography, and how well you and your co-parent cooperate. This complete guide helps you choose.
- Long-Distance Co-Parenting: A Communication Guide for Parents Living ApartLong-distance co-parenting can absolutely work. It takes a more intentional system than local co-parenting does.
Tools and next steps
- Free Parenting Plan GeneratorDraft a written plan in ten minutes.
- Complete Co-Parenting Kit ($297)The fillable parenting agreement, completion guide, 30-Day Reset workbook and 20 message scripts.
Put this schedule in writing, properly
The Complete Co-Parenting Kit gives you the fillable parenting agreement, a section-by-section completion guide, the 30-Day Reset workbook and 20 message scripts for the conversations that come with any schedule change.
See the Kit ($297)Related Reading
The 2-3-2 Custody Schedule: How It Works (With Calendar Examples)
The 2-3-2 is the 2-2-3's mirror image: the same short gaps and alternating weekends, with the three-night block moved into the middle of the week. Here is how it works and when to choose it.
What Is the Best Visitation Schedule? Every Option Compared by Age, Distance and Work
There is no single best visitation schedule, but there is usually a best one for your child's age, your distance and your work. Here is how the common options compare and which to choose.
Custody Schedules for Toddlers and Infants: What Works Under 3 (With Calendars)
Toddlers need short gaps and steady routines, which rules out most of the schedules adults find fairest. Here are the arrangements that work under three, with calendars and plan wording.