Rhode Island Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is the most vital document in a child custody situation. It outlines all of the necessary information about how both parents will continue to care for the child after a separation or divorce. It is essential that parents take the time needed to develop a detailed plan that is well thought out and that centers around the child's needs. A Rhode Island parenting plan must include information about how parental responsibilities and time will be shared.

Before creating a parenting plan, it is important to know some of the terms to use.

• Legal custody: This is the parents' rights to make decisions for the child. These are decisions about child care, medical and dental, education and religion, to name a few. If the child is older, those decisions will be about extracurricular activities, driving, working part-time and social and school functions. In a sole custody situation, one parent has decision-making responsibility. In a joint custody situation, both parents share this responsibility.

• Physical custody: This is how the parents share the time with the child. Parents must decide where their child will live during the week, on weekends, during holidays and vacation time. In a sole custody situation, the child lives with one parent and has visitation with the other. In a joint custody situation, the child spends substantial residential time with both parents.

Your parenting plan in Rhode Island will help create cohesion between parents in how care and decisions are made for the child. While there are not specific guidelines in Rhode Island for making parenting plans, here is some information about a generic parenting plan. A parenting plan should include:

• The type of legal and physical custody you have chosen;

• A schedule for custody and visitation that shows when the child spends time with each parent;

• A schedule for holidays and vacation time;

• Any provisions the parents want to include about parenting; and

• Any extra information that is pertinent to child custody arrangements.

Rhode Island parents are encouraged to work together in creating a parenting plan and submitting it to the court. If parents cannot come to an agreement, both may submit their own plan to the court. Each parent must explain why and how their plan is in the child's best interests. A judge may accept either plan, combine both plans or make a new one. Above all, create a Rhode Island parenting plan that is in your child's best interests.