Drafting your parenting plan

Headings

You should separate your parenting plan into sections by including headings for each topic. This will give your parenting plan a logical structure and make it easier to read and find information.

You should include headings for:

• where your child will live
• the time your child will spend with each parent
• schooling
• medical issues
• resolving disputes.

Formatting

To make your parenting plan easy to read, it should be:

• double spaced
• left aligned
• size 12 font minimum
• in an easy to read style of font.

Each paragraph of your parenting plan should include only one topic.

Each paragraph and page should be numbered.

Headings should be formatted to stand out, so they are easy to find.  

Structure

Your parenting plan should have a logical structure that makes it easy to follow and find information.

You can do this by:

• including an overview at the beginning of your plan
• putting the most important information first
• grouping information by topic
• arranging information within each topic in an order that flows
• using lists to break up large sections of information. 

Overview

At the beginning of your parenting plan, you should include an overview that provides important background information, including:

• your child’s name and date of birth
• the names of any other people who are mentioned in the plan
• a statement that the plan is entered into freely and voluntarily.

Putting this information at the beginning makes it convenient to read and provides an introduction that gives context for the rest of the plan.

Language

Plain English

Your parenting plan should be written in plain English. This will make your parenting plan easier to read, which will save you time and effort later. It will also help avoid misunderstandings and disputes about the terms of your agreement.

To do this, you should use:

• short sentences – sentences that are too long can be vague and confusing
• plain words not technical words, unless necessary
• specific details, such as dates and times.

Where possible, you should avoid:

• cross-referencing terms – this stops the flow of your parenting plan and makes it more difficult to read and follow
• legal and foreign words and phrases.

Creating clear obligations

Your parenting plan should clearly state each parents’ obligations under your agreement.

To do this, you must:

• clearly identify the parent with the obligation
• use words that create an obligation, not a choice, for example must, not can.

Where possible, you should only include one obligation per paragraph.

If your parenting plan doesn’t clearly state each parents’ obligations, it may lead to disputes about your agreement and need to be changed.

Review

Before you sign your parenting plan, you should proofread it to make sure that there are no mistakes or changes that you don’t know about. It is quicker and easier to fix any problems before you sign your agreement.

If there is anything in your parenting plan that you don’t understand, you should get legal advice before you sign it.

Sign your agreement

After you have finished reviewing your agreement, you and the other parent must sign and date your agreement for it to be valid. A parenting plan must be signed and dated by both parents to be recognised under the Family Law Act.

It doesn’t have to be witnessed by an authorised person.

Documents