Wisconsin Divorce Parenting Plans

What’s included in a divorce parenting plan?

If you have multiple children requiring different circumstances, you can make separate parenting plans for each of them. In the parenting plan, you will document each child’s name, age, and where they’ll be living. Other items you should discuss include:

Child placement
Determine where the child will stay and when. Most parents make a four-week timetable filled with where the child sleeps each night. It can also indicate when a child spends the day with one parent but sleeps at the other parent’s home.

Temporary changes in schedules
Schedules can change as the child grows up, especially when they become involved in new activities in or outside of school. One parent can also make temporary schedule arrangements for work, family, or vacation. You’ll need to specify how far in advance a proposed change must be communicated between you and your spouse.

Child expenses
This covers child support, child care, taxes, college payments, and other smaller expenses such as mobile phones, subscriptions, and after-school activities.

Communication
Discuss how you will communicate about your child after the separation. You may choose to meet or schedule phone calls on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis to discuss any important information the other parent needs to know.

Schools
You’ll both probably want a say on what school your child attends. The parenting plan can also cover important school matters and how those will be handled by each parent.

Health and medicine
You will want to have rights during emergency situations, especially when you need to be notified if your child has to go to the hospital. You should also communicate with each other about your child’s medication needs.

Grandparents and extended family
Grandparents have their own rights when it comes to their grandchildren. Other family members can be involved in the parenting plan so your child maintains contact with their extended family.

New partners
If you or your ex-spouse begin dating again, you’ll want to discuss how to introduce a new partner without causing your child emotional distress.

Religion / other specific arrangements
There may be some things you disagree on as a parent, but you can't control how the other party will raise your child once separated. If there are religious arrangements or methods of discipline you agree on, they should be written in the parenting plan.

Parenting plan templates

There are various free parenting plan templates you can find online, or you can make your own. Most templates follow the standard topics discussed such as legal custody, placement scheduling, summer and holiday placement, etc. You can find a proposed parenting plan from the Wisconsin Court System online, covering all of these issues and more.

What if we can’t agree on a child arrangement agreement?

If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse can’t agree on the parenting plan, you can try mediation to solve matters amicably. If mediation doesn’t work, both parties can submit their parenting plans in court. This means that the court will decide on these issues for you, and you will likely be involved in some kind of co-parenting plan. Learn more about Wisconsin divorce laws that may affect child custody.