| In California, if parents divorce, separate, or have | | | | They should also include provisions that give more |
| custody issues, they are required to have a parenting | | | | detail. This can include stipulations about what decisions |
| plan. The parenting plan is the same thing as a custody | | | | that parents must make together, if there is any |
| agreement and it contains all of the information about | | | | decision a parent can make alone, how the parents will |
| how the parents will continue to handle their parenting | | | | handle disagreements about decisions, etc. For physical |
| responsibilities. Here is some information to help | | | | custody, the mother and father should include a |
| California parents develop their parenting plans. | | | | thorough child custody schedule that outlines all of the |
| To begin with, the plan must contain information about | | | | time the children spend with both parents. The custody |
| legal and physical custody. Legal custody refers to the | | | | schedule should include a residential schedule (or |
| parents' obligation to make important decisions for and | | | | repeating cycle of custody), a holiday schedule, |
| about their children. This includes decisions about | | | | vacation information, and special events. |
| education, medical care, religion, extra-curricular | | | | In California, if parents are not able to cooperate and |
| activities, driving privileges, etc. One parent can obtain | | | | agree on their parenting plan, they must attend at least |
| legal custody (sole legal custody) or the parents can | | | | one session of custody mediation. If mediation is not |
| share the decision making responsibility (joint legal | | | | successful, the parents will go to court and a judge will |
| custody). Physical custody refers to the parenting time | | | | determine the final plan. Parents who work together |
| that the mother and father have with the children. One | | | | generally have better results and are more satisfied |
| parent may have sole physical custody, which means | | | | with the plan. |
| the child lives primarily with that parent and visits the | | | | To file a plan, the parents should check with the |
| other parent, or parents may share joint physical | | | | county courthouse. Every county has different |
| custody, where the children spend significant time with | | | | procedures for filing the paperwork for a parenting |
| both the mother and father. | | | | plan. A parent can use the forms available to submit a |
| Parents can use parenting provisions to explain the | | | | plan, or parents can create a plan and attach it to the |
| terms of legal custody in their agreement. They can | | | | forms. Once the plan is signed by both parents and a |
| designate whether there is sole or joint legal custody. | | | | judge it becomes a legal document. |