Parenting Plan Template: Free Printable PDF

A parenting plan is the written agreement for how separated parents will raise their children: when the children are with each parent, how holidays work, who decides what, and how money is shared. This free template walks through each section in plain language, and you can download it as a printable PDF. It is not tied to any state. If you have a court order, or your court requires its own form, that controls.

Download the free parenting plan template (PDF)

No signup or email required. The PDF has fill-in lines for every section below.

What a parenting plan covers

1. Regular schedule

The pattern of nights with each parent during a normal week: alternating weeks, 2-2-3, 5-2-2-5, or something else. Write down what day and time the schedule week starts, and whether the school year and summer are different. If you are still choosing, see 50/50 custody schedules compared.

2. Holidays and special days

Holidays override the regular schedule, so list them explicitly. Many families alternate holidays by even and odd years. Include children's birthdays, parents' birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day, and how much notice is needed for a vacation.

3. Exchanges

Where the handoff happens, who drives, and what counts as late. Vague exchange terms cause a large share of day-to-day friction.

4. Decisions

Who makes education, non-emergency medical, extracurricular and religious decisions, and whether they are joint or belong to one parent. Emergency medical care is usually left to whichever parent has the children at the time.

5. Communication

How the parents talk to each other (an app, email, or text), how quickly they respond to non-urgent messages, and how the children contact the other parent. If direct contact keeps leading to conflict, see parallel parenting.

6. Shared expenses

Which costs are shared, the split, a pre-approval limit for big expenses, and deadlines for requesting and paying. This section is where many plans are thinnest, and where many later disagreements start. For a fuller version, use the expense agreement template and the shared expenses checklist.

7. Changes and disagreements

How a schedule swap is requested and confirmed, what happens when you disagree (talk first, then mediation, then court is a common order), and when the plan is reviewed.

Tips for filling it in

• Be specific. "Alternate holidays" leads to arguments. "Parent A has Thanksgiving in even years, from Wednesday 6 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m." does not.
• Plan for change. Children's needs change at school age and again as teenagers. Set a review date.
• Keep a record of what actually happens. A plan describes the intention. A shared custody calendar and expense log show what really happened, including swaps.

Questions parents ask

Is this template a legal document? Not by itself. A parenting plan becomes enforceable when a court approves it or includes it in an order. Many courts have their own required forms, so check with your court or a family-law attorney.

Do both parents need to sign it? If you are using it as an agreement between yourselves, signing and dating a copy each makes it clear what you agreed. To make it part of your case, ask an attorney.

Can we change the plan later? Between yourselves, yes, if you both agree in writing. If the plan is part of a court order, changing it usually needs the court's approval.

This template and guide are general educational information, not legal advice. Your court order or existing parenting plan controls. This material has not been reviewed by a lawyer. Consult a licensed family-law attorney for your situation.

Want the schedule and shared costs from your plan to run on their own? See how SharedAnchor pricing works. One plan covers both parents.