In any court proceeding to establish or modify parenting time with a child, a parenting plan shall be filed with the court. A parenting plan may be either general or detailed.

A general parenting plan sets out in a general way an outline of the parents responsibilities and how parenting time will be shared. A general parenting plan must set out the minimum amount of parenting time for the non-custodial parent. For the purposes of calculating child support, it will also need to include the number, or the minimum number of overnights the child will have with the non-custodial parent.

A detailed parenting plan may include:

• Residential schedule
• Holiday, birthday and vacation planning
• Weekends, holidays, and school schedules
• Decision making and responsibility
• Information sharing and access
• Relocation of parents
• Telephone access
• Transportation and
• Methods of resolving disputes

A detailed plan may also address specific issues concerning the child, and when the parents much consult with the child.

If a case goes to trial, either parent may ask the court to develop a detailed parenting plan. If the court develops a detailed parenting plan for the parents, the court shall be guided by a “best interest of the child” standard.

There is excellent information about parenting plans at the Oregon Judicial Department website and several sample parenting plans depending on the age of the children. The sample plans can be completed by the parents and submitted to the court. You can find the Oregon Judicial Department website here: OJD PARENTING PLANS