A parenting plan is your roadmap for how you and your spouse will share parenting after separation. It balances stability for your children with flexibility for real life. A strong plan outlines parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, holidays, and vacations while leaving room to adapt as your children’s needs change. The right level of detail depends on your communication, trust, and conflict levels. Using templates and resources like the Parenting After Separation course helps you create a practical, child-focused plan without becoming overly rigid.
Start With Good Resources
Before you start drafting your plan, it helps to see examples of what parenting plans look like and to think through the topics you will cover. In Alberta, a valuable resource is the Parenting After Separation course. The course is available online and free of charge.
Why this is helpful:
- It introduces you to the key topics parenting plans cover.
- It includes a template plan so you can see how issues might be framed.
- It helps you think about parenting from your child’s perspective. Even if you don’t copy the template verbatim, going through it gives you a solid sense of the questions you will need to ask.
Decide How Much Detail You Actually Need
A parenting plan can be very detailed and structured or relatively simple and high-level. Common topics you may want to address include:
- Regular parenting time and weekly schedules
- Holidays and special occasions
- Decision-making for health, education, activities and religion
- Communication between you both
- How changes to the schedule will be handled
You and your spouse will want to think through these issues and decide how much detail is right for you.
Why Less Can Be More
Plans that are less detailed often signal that:
- You and your spouse get along reasonably well and you keep the children’s best interests at the forefront
- There is a level of trust between you
- You will make decisions as issues arise instead of referring back to a rigid document
- There is flexibility to respond as your children’s needs change
In contrast, very long and rigid plans may suggest high conflict or deep mistrust. They can make co-parenting harder instead of easier because they leave little room for life’s realities.
Tailor the Plan to Your Family
There is no one “right” amount of detail. Instead, reflect on your situation:
- How well do you communicate right now?
- Do you solve day-to-day issues without everything spelled out?
- Are there recurring problems that genuinely need structure?
- Will a simple framework or a more detailed plan better serve your family’s needs?
Some people choose a streamlined plan that focuses on:
- Parenting time (who the children are with and when)
- Decision-making responsibilities
- Holiday and vacation arrangements
They leave other topics to ongoing discussion and cooperation. Others in higher-conflict situations may need more specifics, but it is wise to avoid drafting something so rigid there is no room for life’s normal changes.
A parenting plan should be:
- Workable in real life, not just on paper
- Flexible enough to handle unexpected events
- Focused on your children’s needs, not just your fears
- Proportionate to your situation
If you need guidance or you would like more information on creating a parenting plan or understanding your rights call Miller Boileau Family Law Group today at 780-482-2888.
Miller Boileau Family Law Group is located at 10981 127 St. NW Edmonton, Alberta, T5M 0T1
FAQs
How detailed should my parenting plan be?
Your plan should be detailed enough to avoid confusion, but not so rigid that life’s normal changes make it useless. Think about your communication style and your children’s needs.
Should we include holidays and special occasions in our plan?
Yes. It helps to have clarity about who has the children during major holidays and vacations, including travel and pickup arrangements, so expectations are clear.
What if I am not sure how to create a parenting plan?
Starting with resources like the Parenting After Separation course and consulting a family lawyer will give you confidence and clarity as you create a plan tailored to your family.
Pierre Boileau
Over almost 35 years of practice Pierre Boileau, K.C. has gained experience as a Mediator, Collaborative Family Lawyer, Litigator and now as an Arbitrator. Pierre’s extensive experience has shown him that client satisfaction is maximized when clients have control over their own future. This can best be achieved through interest based negotiation. Only as a last resort, should litigation be considered. When necessary, Pierre relies upon his vast court experience and training.
Pierre remains committed to continuing to practice at a high level with particular care, interest,and sound judgment. He doesn’t shy away from particularly challenging cases. Pierre’s greatest reward comes from the satisfaction of assisting clients through one of the most challenging experiences of their lives.