Making a Parenting Plan in Wisconsin

A parenting plan is the most important document in a child custody situation. It details information about how parents will provide care for their child after a separation or divorce. It is essential for parents to create a detailed parenting plan that focuses on the child's best interests. Before we begin, let's take a look at some common terms and definitions the courts use.

• Legal custody: This is the parents' responsibility for making decisions regarding the child. Those decisions may be decisions about child care, dental or medical care, education, religious upbringing, etc.

  • Sole legal custody means that one parent has the decision-making responsibility.

  • Joint legal custody means the parents share the decision-making responsibility. They can divide the decisions or they can consult one another about all decisions.

• Physical custody: This is how the parents share time with their child. Parents must decide where their child will live during the week, on weekends, on vacation, during holidays, etc.

  • Sole physical custody means that the child will live with one parent and the other parent has visitation.

  • Joint physical custody means that the child spends substantial time living with both parents. It does not have to be exactly equal time.

A Wisconsin parenting plan should include the type of custody the parents have decided upon, a schedule for visitation and custody, a schedule for vacations and holidays, how decisions will be made, provisions that make the plan more effective and any additional information parents find necessary.

In Wisconsin, if parents can agree on a plan they can file it and it will most likely be accepted. If custody is contested, the courts will probably require the parents to attend at least one mediation session to help them make their parenting plan. Parents who are still unable to agree on a plan must both submit a their own plan to the court.

Wisconsin parenting plans must include basic information about legal custody, a complete custody and visitation schedule, a holiday schedule, information about vacations and a summer schedule. The plans must also include additional information about where the parents reside, where the parents work and their employment hours, the type of child care and who will pay it, where the child will attend school, the child's medical information, the child's religious upbringing, a dispute resolution process, information about child support, and if contact can be made with the non-custodial parent through electronic means or telephone.

Work together as much as possible to create a parenting plan that is in the best interests of your child. Your Wisconsin parenting plan should be made with your child as the number one priority.