If you’re going through a divorce or custody case in Oklahoma, the court may ask you to submit a parenting plan. This plan outlines how you and the other parent will share responsibilities and make decisions for your child. A well-prepared parenting plan not only helps protect your parental rights but also provides stability and structure for your child’s future.
What Is a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan is a written agreement or court-ordered document that outlines how separated or divorced parents will care for and raise their child. The parenting plan becomes part of the final custody order, and both parents are legally required to follow it.
What Must a Parenting Plan Include?
Under Oklahoma law, a parenting plan must address the following issues:
- Legal Custody: Who has the authority to make major decisions about the child’s education, health care, religion, and welfare. Legal custody may be sole or joint.
- Physical Custody and Visitation Schedule: Where the child will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. This includes:
- Weekly schedules (school weeks and weekends)
- Holidays and birthdays
- Summer vacation
- Dispute Resolution: How the parents will resolve future disagreements, such as using mediation before returning to court.
- Communication: Guidelines for how parents will share information about the child and communicate with each other.
- Relocation Notice: Provisions for what happens if one parent wants to move more than 75 miles away
You can also include additional provisions that reflect your family’s needs.
Do Parents Have to Agree?
If both parents agree on a parenting plan, the judge will review it to make sure it serves the child’s best interests. If parents disagree, each parent can submit their own proposed plan, and the judge will make a final decision after a hearing.
Judges in Oklahoma always make custody and visitation decisions based on the best interests of the child, not what’s most convenient for either parent.
Can a Parenting Plan Be Changed?
Parenting plans can be modified later if circumstances change. You must show:
- A material change in circumstances, and
- That the proposed change is in the child’s best interests
Common reasons for modification include a parent moving, changes in work schedules, or concerns about the child’s health or safety.
Tulsa Family Law Attorneys
If you’re preparing for a custody case or divorce, having a strong parenting plan can help you avoid future disputes and protect your relationship with your child. At Tulsa Family Lawyers Group, we can guide you through the process. Call us at 918-742-3555 or click here to ask an online legal question.
