When parents separate, one of their most important tasks is deciding how they will continue raising their children together — even when they are no longer together themselves. In Ohio, this is formalized in a parenting plan (also called a shared parenting plan when both parents share legal custody). A well-crafted parenting plan gives children stability, reduces conflict between parents, and heads off disputes before they arise.
What Is a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan is a written agreement — eventually approved by the court — that spells out the rights and responsibilities of each parent with respect to the children. It goes beyond simply stating who the children will live with; a good parenting plan addresses the details of daily life that can become flashpoints for conflict if left undefined.
Ohio courts require a parenting plan whenever shared parenting is ordered. Even in cases where one parent is designated the primary residential parent, having a detailed parenting schedule reduces ambiguity and makes co-parenting easier in practice.
Residential Schedule
The core of any parenting plan is the residential schedule: where the children will live on which days. This includes:
- Regular week schedule (weekdays and weekends)
- Holiday schedule — Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and other major holidays, typically alternating between parents on an annual basis
- Summer vacation schedule — often an extended block for each parent
- School break schedule (winter break, spring break)
- Each parent's birthday and the children's birthdays
Ohio courts have standard parenting time guidelines that are used as a default in many counties, but parents can and often do create customized schedules that better fit their children's needs and their own work schedules.
Decision-Making Authority
The parenting plan should clearly address how major decisions will be made for the children, including:
- Education — school selection, tutoring, extracurricular activities
- Healthcare — routine and non-emergency medical decisions, choice of providers
- Religious upbringing
- Emergency decisions — who has authority when the other parent is unavailable
In a shared parenting plan, both parents typically share decision-making authority. The plan should specify what happens when parents disagree — for example, whether they must first attempt mediation before seeking court intervention.
Communication Between Parents
How will parents communicate about the children? A parenting plan can address:
- Preferred communication method (text, email, co-parenting app)
- Expected response time for non-emergency communications
- How to share school, medical, and activity information
- Rules for including new partners in communications or decisions
Co-parenting apps like OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents can be helpful tools — they create a documented record of communications and help keep exchanges focused on the children.
Transition Logistics
Exchanges between parents can be a source of tension, especially early in the co-parenting relationship. The parenting plan can specify:
- Where and when exchanges take place
- Who is responsible for transportation in each direction
- What happens if a parent is late or misses an exchange
- Rules for what belongings travel with the child
Neutral exchange locations — such as a school, library, or police department — can reduce conflict and provide a more comfortable transition for children.
Travel and Relocation
The plan should address what happens when a parent wants to travel with the children out of state or internationally:
- How much notice is required
- Whether written consent is needed for out-of-country travel
- Passport control arrangements
- What happens if a parent wants to permanently relocate
Ohio law requires the residential parent to give 60 days' notice before moving more than 50 miles from the current residence, but the parenting plan can include additional provisions.
Disputes and Modifications
The best parenting plans anticipate that circumstances will change. Children grow, work schedules shift, and what works for a toddler may not work for a teenager. Including a dispute resolution process — such as mediation before court — can save significant time and money when modifications need to be made.
The plan can also specify how it should be reviewed and updated as the children get older, rather than waiting until a problem arises.
Focus on the Children
Above all, the best parenting plans are built around the needs of the children, not the convenience or preferences of the parents. Research consistently shows that children do better when they have stable, loving relationships with both parents and when conflict between parents is minimized. A thoughtful parenting plan is one of the most important things you can do for your children during this transition.
An experienced family law attorney can help you draft a plan that is specific, workable, and courts are likely to approve — and that sets your family up for as much stability as possible going forward.