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Nov 04, 2024, 09:35:01 AM

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Sample Parenting Plan (For Military Personnel)

Although it is impossible to foresee and cover every possible issue, this PPP does a good job of taking in account the kinds of situations that come with military duty. If you intend to use this PPP, you will want to modify and/or delete certain items in the document to address specific items unique to you and your spouse's situation.


A more complete and comprehensive set of parenting plans is available from ParentingPlans.net, including an expanded Military Parenting Plan.


Notes:

1) Wherever the text "[Father/Mother]" is found, one or the other must be removed.


2) Wherever the text "his/her" or "he/she" is found, one or the other must be removed.


3) Once you've made the above changes, read the entire document carefully and make
certain that text "Father" and "Mother" appear in the correct places.


4) Adjust the residence time(s) mentioned to suit your situation.


5) Have your attorney or a qualified paralegal review the document for errors and/or discrepancies.




SHARED PARENTING PLAN FOR {child's name}


VISITATION: The child has the right to spend time with both parents. A shared parenting plan is to be established to ensure that the minor child named above, have frequent and continuing contact with both parents and that it is in his/her best interest that custody be awarded to both parents rather than either parent being named sole custodian of the child because both parents should share equally in the care and upbringing of the child. It is very important that both parties recognize that this child is not a bargaining chip and will not be treated as such. Each of the parties shall exercise the utmost good faith and shall consent to all reasonable requests for visitation by the other party. The [Father/Mother] (the custodial parent) is expected to provide access to the child at unscheduled times if requested and if to do so does not disrupt prior planned activities of the child or the Custodial Parent. Therefore, not as a limitation, but as an extension of the foregoing, the [Father/Mother], (the non-custodial parent) is entitled to and shall have the following visitation rights with the child:


1. Weekends: Due to distance, weekend visits will be scheduled on a case by case basis. These visits, if exercised, will be in the custodial parent's local area and will be permitted only on a 3-day weekend unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. Said visitation shall begin at 6:00 PM on the afternoon in which the child gets out of school for the weekend. If the child is out of school on Friday, visitation will be from Thursday afternoon at 6:00 PM and conclude at 6:00 PM on Sunday night. In the event the child is out of school on Monday, visitation will begin at 6:00 PM on Friday afternoon and will conclude at 6:00 PM on Monday night. Intentions to exercise visitation will be made in writing to the custodial parent no less than 30 days in advance unless otherwise agreed upon. A telephone number where the child and the parent will be staying will be provided the other parent as soon as it is known. The non-custodial parent will assume any cost incurred by this visit.

2. Holidays:

  1. Thanksgiving: The [Father/Mother] will have visitation with the child from 5:00 PM the day school is dismissed until Sunday night at 5:00 PM prior to school being resumed on Monday morning in even years. The [Father/Mother] will have the child in odd years. In the event the [Father/Mother] is on a temporary duty assignment (TDY) with the military for Thanksgiving and unable to exercise visitation, the [Father/Mother] agrees to make up the days missed over summer visitation as long as the days missed will not interfere with vacation already scheduled for her and the child.

  2. Christmas Vacation: The [Father/Mother] will have visitation with the child from 5:00 PM the day school dismisses until 5:00 PM the day before school resumes in odd years. The [Father/Mother] will have the child in even years. In the event the [Father/Mother] is TDY during his/her scheduled Christmas holiday time with the child, the [Father/Mother] agrees that the child will be with the [Father/Mother] the next Christmas for the missed visitation and will allow the [Father/Mother] extra time with the child during her scheduled year with the child from 27 December until the day before the child returns to school. The schedule would then revert back to the odd/even schedule above

  3. Spring Break: The [Father/Mother] will have visitation for Spring break from 5:00 PM on the day school dismisses until 5:00 PM the day before school resumes in even years. The [Father/Mother] will have the child in odd years. In the event the [Father/Mother] is TDY during this scheduled visitation, the [Father/Mother] agrees that the time missed will be made up the following year or the number of days missed can be an extension to the summer visitation to be agreed upon by both parties prior to the [Father/Mother] leaving for his/her TDY. Extra time with the [Father/Mother] for the missed visitation should not interfere with vacation plans between the [Father/Mother] and the child that were scheduled before the [Father/Mother] knew about his/her TDY.

  4. Winter Break: The [Father/Mother] will have visitation for Winter Break from 5:00 PM on the day school dismisses until 5:00 PM the day before school resumes in odd years. The [Father/Mother] will have the child in even years. In the event the [Father/Mother] is TDY during this scheduled visitation, the [Father/Mother] agrees that the time missed will be made up the following year or the number of days missed can be an extension to the summer visitation to be agreed upon by both parties prior to the [Father/Mother] leaving for his/her TDY. Extra time with the [Father/Mother] for the missed visitation should not interfere with vacation plans between the [Father/Mother] and the child that were scheduled before the [Father/Mother] knew about his/her TDY.

  5. Mother's Day/Father's Day: Mother's Day or Father's Day shall be spent with the parent being honored by the holiday in question from 5:00 PM on the Friday before the holiday until 5:00 PM Sunday. Father's Day visitation will take place at the father's residence each year and should coincide with summer vacation. In the event school is still in session, the [Father/Mother] will be permitted to exercise weekend visitation with the child for that holiday.

  6. Birthdays: The child will celebrate his/her birthday in the home of the residential parent in odd years and the non-residential parent in even years.

  7. Non-Specified Holidays: Should the parents jointly recognize a holiday not specifically mentioned in this order, each parent shall cooperate with the other parent in providing visitation with the non-custodial parent for the entire holiday in even numbered years and in working out beginning and ending times for such visitation.

  8. Summer Vacation: The [Father/Mother] will have Summer Visitation with the child for a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 60 days as agreed upon by both parties no later than 01 May each year or within 45 days of the scheduled visit. In the event the parties are unable to agree on dates, the [Father/Mother] will be permitted to pick the child up at the child's residence within one week after the last day of school and arrangements will be made by the [Father/Mother] to pick the child up at the [Father's/Mother's] residence 45 - 60 days after visitation began.

    Note: In the event the child is sick or if weather hinders any scheduled visit, the custodial parent agrees to make that time up to the non-custodial parent during summer visitation and will schedule any vacation with the child around the make-up time. If the custodial parent has already made vacation plans and changing them would incur monetary penalties, he/she agrees to make up the time during the next summer visitation period. Visitation time missed due to the above uncontrollable circumstance will not be forfeited.





3. Summer School: If the child is required to attend summer school to pass to the next grade, both parents must agree to it beforehand. For reasons the child could not prevent (too many absences due to illness), summer school attendance would be permitted. For other reasons, it will not be permitted unless both parents are in agreement that it is in the child's best interest to attend and if the child will be unable to receive necessary tutoring at the [Father's/Mother's] residence in the area of study requiring additional tutoring. A conference between the child's teacher and both parents will be scheduled prior to the end of the year if the child is having trouble progressing. The parents will then make a decision. The [Father's/Mother's] visitation with the child will begin the day summer school is dismissed and will end the day before school is to resume if the parents agree on summer school attendance.

4.Alternate Visitation Arrangements: Regular summer visitation and holiday visitation shall be had in accordance with paragraph 2. In the event the [Father/Mother] is TDY and would like to exercise visitation with the child, the [Father/Mother] agrees to make the child available to his/her family for that holiday period as an alternative to the [Father/Mother] forfeiting his/her visitation period. The [Father/Mother] would still be responsible for ½ of travel expenses incurred for drop off/pick up of the child if visitation is during summer vacation, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. For other visitation periods, the [Father/Mother] would be responsible for coordinating travel arrangements for the child between himself and his/her family member who will be taking the child. In this case, the [Father's/Mother's] family is taking over the [Father's/Mother's] visitation and the child will not be made available to the [Father/Mother] the next holiday. If the [Father's/Mother's] family does not take over the [Father's/Mother's] scheduled visit, the child would be made available to the [Father/Mother] the next holiday and the schedule would continue as agreed upon in paragraph 2. The [Father/Mother] will provide a letter of intent to exercise such visitation 30 days in advance to the [Father/Mother] with all arrangements or instructions with whom the [Father/Mother] should make arrangements for drop off/pick up of the child. Visitation set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 take precedence over visitation scheduled in paragraph 1.

5.Cancellations: Cancellation of any of the aforementioned visitation shall be made in writing and at least 14 days prior to the scheduled visitation unless circumstances would require shorter notice. In this case, notice as soon as a problem has arisen would have to suffice.

6. Open Telephonic Communication: When the child is with one parent, the other parent shall have open and reasonable telephonic communication with the child. The parties will agree upon specific times and days for said telephonic communication. However, in the event that the parties are unable to agree, the non-custodial parent shall have telephone contact a minimum of twice each week on Thursday and Sunday nights between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM. The custodial parent agrees to have the child available for telephone communication with the non-custodial parent during these times but will also allow other calls at unscheduled times as long as it is between reasonable hours. If the child will be unavailable for telephonic communication, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to notify the non-custodial parent prior to the scheduled day/time of the communication and set up a make-up time for that telephone call. The child will call his/her [Father/Mother] a minimum of one time each week at a time agreed upon by the parties. *Note: Times would be in the child's time zone if it were different than the non-custodial parent. When the child is with the [Father/Mother] during any visitation period, the same schedule will be adhered to allowing the custodial parent communication with the child on a regular basis.

7. Transportation Costs: The parties will equally assume Transportation costs for Summer Vacation, Thanksgiving, and Christmas visitation periods. All other visits (weekends, Spring Break, Winter Break, and non-specified holidays) with the child will be incurred by the visiting party. Distance, in the event the parties agree to drive will be equally split between the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent's residences.

8. Mode of Transportation: The mode or method of transportation for visitation drop off/ pick up will be agreed upon by both parties. The parties agree that once the child has reached the age of 8, he/she will be permitted to fly alone. The parties will pay the additional cost to the airline to have the child supervised by an attendant during the flight. Until that age the parties agree that the distance will be split driving or each parent would be responsible for his/ her plane ticket to fly with the child. The parties will equally assume the ticket for the child. When the child is old enough to fly alone, and tickets have been purchased for the child to do so and at any time prior to the child boarding the plane, one party feels that the child should not fly, that party will be responsible for reimbursing the other party his/her portion of the child's ticket if the other party is unable to get a refund on the ticket and agrees to assume all cost incurred for transporting the child to the other parent for visitation. The parties agree to fly with the child for visitation a minimum of one visit each year to get him accustomed to flying and to prepare him to do so alone. When possible, the parties should try to purchase a refundable ticket for the child even if it is at a higher cost to them. The [Father/Mother] is responsible for purchasing a ticket for the child and will be reimbursed ½ the fare for the child by the [Father/Mother] within 30 days of that purchase or the parties may each purchase a one-way ticket for the child.

9. Moves: If the [Father/Mother] moves involuntarily (company relocates her) the agreement set forth above will continue to be followed. If the [Father/Mother] moves voluntarily, he/she agrees to assume any additional cost in transportation of the child for visitation. If the [Father/Mother] is relocated overseas by the military, both parties agree that the [Father/Mother] would only be responsible for transportation to the [Father's/Mother's] home of record. If either of the parties move at any time, the other party will be provided a new address and phone number immediately following the move.

10. Medical/Dental Coverage/Care: The [Father/Mother] agrees to provide medical and dental coverage for the child as long as he/she is in the military. The parties agree to equally assume any non-reimbursable medical/dental, orthopedic, optometry, orthodontic, and pharmaceutical expenses associated with care for the child. Each party is responsible for paying their portion of such treatment directly to the medical/dental clinic in a timely manner. The [Father/Mother] will have complete access to all medical and dental records of the child. The parties agree to notify the other party as soon as possible for an emergency situation where the child is involved and urgent care is needed and within 24 hours of any routine doctor/dentist visits. Visits with specialists for care will be discussed between the parties prior to any such visit and agreed upon by both parties. In the event the [Father/Mother] separates from the military, the [Father/Mother] would be responsible for medical/dental coverage for the child and the parties will continue to equally assume any non-reimbursable expenses associated with care for the child. Child Support would reflect an increase upon proof of said premiums for ½ the amount for the child's premium for both medical and dental. This amount can be obtained by dividing the total premium by the number of persons covered and multiplying by 1(the number of children subject to the order = the child's portion).

11. Child Care: The parties agree to equally split any childcare expenses associated with the child. The childcare director will verify any such childcare and a copy of any contracts signed will be promptly submitted to the other parent. Changes to contracts would be conveyed to the other parent within 48 hours of the change and written confirmation within 10 days. Childcare will be paid directly to the provider unless one parent has paid on behalf of the other parent and seeks reimbursement. In this case, reimbursement will be made within 30 days to the other parent. In the event the [Father/Mother] becomes delinquent in his/her child care payment to the child care provider 60 days or more, he/she agrees to have the child care payment included with child support and paid to the Family Court and the entire amount be taken through wage withholding. The [Father/Mother] will pay any cost incurred by the [Father/Mother] to have this action completed.

12. Child Support: Both parties agree that Child Support will be paid in accordance with __ State guidelines and calculated based on the parties' gross incomes minus allowable deductions to determine a net income. Once a total combined income is determined, a total child support amount for each party will be determined by multiplying the parent's net disposable income by 17%. Upon any increase in State guidelines or a change of circumstance by either party, child support will be recalculated. Currently, based on financial affidavits submitted by both parties, that amount is $370.00 per month to be paid by the [Father/Mother] to the [Father/Mother] . Any change in the amount of child support to be paid that would fall below state guidelines would have to be acceptable by the ______ County Family Court.

13. Payment of Support: Support will be paid by the [Father/Mother] to the ______ County Family Court in two equal installments, one on the 1st of each month and the other on the 15th of each month effective immediately. The [Father/Mother] agrees to inform the [Father/Mother] of all information (payment address within the Family Court) and both parties sign any additional information he/she may need to make the payment to them as an attachment to this agreement. he/she also agrees to assume financial responsibility for this change in the agreement and have the required paperwork completed by her attorney, Mr. Joseph Deery. The child support payment will be made in the form of a money order or cashier's check. During extended visits with the [Father/Mother], the [Father/Mother] agrees to decrease support to ½ for any period of visitation lasting 30 days or more to cover miscellaneous expenses (food, transportation, housing, and clothing) for the child while he/she is with the [Father/Mother]. he/she agrees to reimburse the [Father/Mother] half when they meet at the beginning of summer visitation between the [Father/Mother] and the child and the other ½ within 30 days of that date.

14. School Related Information: School Related Information will be provided the non-custodial parent by the custodial parent immediately upon receipt. The [Father/Mother] will also provide the [Father/Mother] with times/dates of any conferences scheduled with the child's teachers when the child's progress or behavior will be discussed so that the [Father/Mother] may have the option to attend. Such conferences, if requested by the [Father/Mother] will be scheduled enough in advance that the [Father/Mother] would have the opportunity to attend and should be scheduled, when possible on a Friday afternoon allowing the [Father/Mother] visitation with the child in the residential parent's local area for the remainder of the weekend. In the event the [Father/Mother] is unable to attend, the [Father/Mother] will promptly relay topics discussed to him within 48 hours of the conference. The [Father/Mother] agrees to send all pertinent school information (teachers names, room number, bus information, after school care information, etc) to the [Father/Mother] within 30 days of the first day of school each year or within 14 days of any changes. he/she also agrees to send a portion of work completed by the child on a monthly basis to the father.

15. Education Records/School Pick-Up: The [Father/Mother] will be permitted complete access to all of the child's education records and will be permitted to pick the child up from school on occasions agreed upon by the [Father/Mother] . The [Father/Mother] agrees to notify school personnel prior to the [Father/Mother] arriving to pick the child up.

16. School Pictures: The [Father/Mother] agrees to provide the [Father/Mother] with a proof of school pictures along with an order form in the event he/she chooses to purchase a package for him/her self.

17. Extra-Curricular Activities: The [Father/Mother] agrees to assume the costs for any extra-curricular activity (baseball, football, basketball, etc) the child participates in while he/she is with him/her. The [Father/Mother] agrees to do the same when the child is with him. If cost exceeds $50.00 for any activity, the parents agree to split the costs equally for that activity regardless of with which parent the child is with. Copies of activity schedules will be sent to the other parent once the schedule has been received.

18. College Expenses: College expenses will be equally assumed by both parents for the child. Once the child begins college, both parties agree that support will be paid to an account in the child's name but handled by the residential parent to ensure support is being used wisely by the child. The child must attend 4 years of uninterrupted education and enrolling in college the semester immediately following his/her graduation from high school to continue receiving support. The non-residential parent will no longer provide support in the event the child engages in full time employment after reaching the age of 18.

19. Tax Exemption: The parties agree that the [Father/Mother] will take the tax exemption in even years and the [Father/Mother] in odd years.

20. Overnight Visitors:
The parties agree that each parent will use utmost discretion when allowing anyone to stay overnight when the child is present. The parties agree that the stipulation regarding this issue be unenforceable and subsequently removed from the original order.

21. Conflicts with the Parenting Agreement: Should any conflicts arise with any of the areas of the above agreement, a letter explaining the conflict and offering a possible solution should be sent to the other parent as soon as the conflict arises unless the conflict can be resolved by the parents by telephone in a respectful and civil manner. Within a reasonable amount of time, the other parent agrees to offer a counter solution if he/she cannot accept the solution offered. If the parties cannot reach a new agreement, this agreement acts as default and would remain completely enforceable.

22. New Conflicts: Should new conflicts arise, the same procedures should be followed in accordance with paragraph 20 until an acceptable solution is worked out between the parties. If one parent's wishes cannot be accommodated, that party can petition to have the conflict decided by the Family Court.

23. Illness, accident, or death in the immediate family: Additional parenting time in the event of a serious illness, accident or death in the immediate family shall be allowed so that the children may see the family member upon request or attend the funeral of the deceased family member. "Immediate Family" shall be defined as follows: (define 'immediate family' here).


24. Review of the Parenting Plan: Both parties agree that situations can change at short notice and this parenting plan should be reviewed at least annually to ensure that it is still working in the child's best interest as well as the parents involved. In the event it requires modification for one parent, the other parents wishes should also be accommodated, when possible. Parenting does not stop because of divorce and the child deserves support (both monetary and emotional) from both his/her parents.

The parents agree that neither parent will degrade the other parent in the presence of the child or put the child in a position where he/she has to make a choice between an activity and parenting time or between the parents. Parenting time needs to come first and activities can be rescheduled at a later time unless the parents are in agreement that the child would benefit from participating in the activity in question.

Both parents agree that they will offer the child to the other parent first and explain the activity to the other parent and come to agreeable terms of what the child should do before the activity is mentioned to the child. This will alleviate resentment on behalf of the child because they feel like they HAVE to visit mommy or daddy. Both parties agree to disagree on some issues and respect one another's wishes when the child is with the other parent.

Last but not least, both parents agree not to let any discussion get out of hand at any time while the child is in the presence of either or both parents.

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