What is a parenting plan?

Making & following a parenting plan in Wisconsin divorces

A parenting plan is a plan each parent develops depicting the day-to-day care and placement parents anticipate for the children when they are no longer living as an intact family. Parenting plans are not always necessary, but should be completed in a contested case regarding custody and placement of the children. A parenting plan shall provide information answering the following questions:

• What legal custody (decision-making authority) and physical placement the parent is seeking.
• Where the parent lives currently and where the parent intends to live during the next 2 years.
• Where the parent works and the hours of employment.
• Who will provide any necessary child care when the parent is unavailable and who will pay for the child care.
• Where the child will go to school.
• What doctor or health care facility will provide medical care for the child.
• How the child's medical expenses will be paid.
• What the child's religious commitment will be, if any.
• Who will make decisions about the child's education, medical care, choice of child care providers and extracurricular activities.
• How the holidays will be divided.
• What the child's school year placement and summer schedule will be.
• Whether and how the child will be able to contact the other parent when the child has physical placement with the parent providing the parenting plan, and what electronic communication, if any, the parent is seeking.
  • (Lm) Whether equipment for providing electronic communication is reasonably available to both parents.
• How the parent proposes to resolve disagreements related to matters over which the court orders joint decision making.
• If there is evidence that either party engaged in inter-spousal battery, how the child will be transferred between the parties for the exercise of physical placement to ensure the safety of the child and the parties.

The parenting plan helps the Guardian ad Litem and the court see what each parent is looking for as an outcome to the case. It will show how far apart the parents are on an agreement and works as a negotiation piece. Even though it is required by statute, in practice, not all lawyers or Guardian ad Litem’s will have the parents fill out the plan unless it becomes necessary or is ordered by the court. However, in some situations, a parenting plan can assist the parties in coming to an agreement.

Do Wisconsin divorce laws prefer a particular parenting schedule?

No, the outcomes of every case are specific to the family. A schedule that works for one family may not work for another family. Parents' work schedules, ages of the children, the distance between the parent’s homes, and the special needs of the children all impact the court's decision process. Some placement schedules are more commonly used by families than others, but no preferred plan that is set forth in Wisconsin law.

Still have questions? Contact Wisconsin divorce attorneys today for more information.