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Parenting plans
Parenting plans are written plans that can include an agreement about the amount of time the children will be in each parent’s care. A parenting plan doesn’t need to spell out the exact arrangements for every night in the year; parents can agree on what the care percentage will be.
A parenting plan is the best way for parents who have significant and regular daytime care to have it recognised in their assessment. While generally the formula is based on care measured by number of nights, in some circumstances it has the flexibility to cover the very small number of customers who have significant regular daytime caring responsibilities and no night time responsibilities. If you have an arrangement like this, we recommend you and the other parent make a parenting plan and provide a copy to us.
If a parent misses a day or two of care, due to illness or other circumstances, it will not necessarily have an effect on child support. This is because the child support formula is based on broad ranges of care levels. Usually a small variation in the level of care will not affect the amount of child support.
Example: Jenny and Murray
Jenny and Murray agree that Jenny will have care of their child, Max, every second weekend, half the school holidays and some special occasions. In their parenting plan, they agree this will make up 20 per cent care. They are aware the exact percentage could change slightly during the year due to illness or holidays, and agree that small changes like these won't affect the care percentage.
If you have a current parenting plan and we have a copy of it, we can base your care levels in your child support assessment on the plan. If your care arrangements change, we recommend you try to make a new parenting plan.
What does a parenting plan look like?
A parenting plan can take any form, but to be a parenting plan under the Family Law Act 1975 it must be in writing, signed and dated by both parents. It must be made free from any threat, duress or coercion.
The publication Me, My Kids and My Ex has a handy guide that may help you make parenting arrangements. You can download or order it online or call our Publications Hotline on 1800 040 972.
What can be included in a parenting plan?
Your plan will be unique to your circumstances. It should be practical, simple and as concrete as possible. A parenting plan can deal with any aspect of the care, welfare and development of a child.
The kinds of things that may be included in a parenting plan are:
- who the child will live with
- what time the child will spend with each parent
- what time the child will spend with other people, such as grandparents
- how the parents will share parental responsibility and consult about decisions (like which school the child will attend)
- how the child will communicate with each parent or other people (eg by phone, email or letters)
- what arrangements need to be made for special days such as birthdays and holidays
- what process can be used to change the plan or resolve any disagreements about the plan
- child support for a child
- any other issue about parental responsibility or the care, welfare and development of the child.
For examples and more information about parenting plans go to Family Relationships Online or call 1800 050 321.
