In the state where we divorced, a parenting plan was required. I would check with your attorney to find out what is required or acceptable in your state. It might be that there is an equivalent. The parenting plan is essentially an agreement that the two of you make about how you will parent the child.

What’s in it would vary depending upon what issues you guys have or what you foresee, but visitation times and days should be detailed, I think (you have an open visitation policy now… but what if you he were to get angry about something and comes up with ‘a good reason’ to deny visitation?). You essentially want something to fall back on in case the other parent gets a wild hair and stops being reasonable. Your attorney, again, could probably give you more specific direction.

The divorce papers have just been signed this year, but we have not laid out a parenting plan.  We have an open visitation policy.  Do I just talk to my lawyer about this then?  And will he know what I am talking about?  What kind of questions and issues need to be on this parenting plan?

Thank you so much, Mae