Fillable Printable Model Parallel Parenting Plan Order - Indiana
Fillable Printable Model Parallel Parenting Plan Order - Indiana
Model Parallel Parenting Plan Order - Indiana
MODEL PARALLEL PARENTING PLAN ORDER
The court concludes the parties are high conflict parents, as defined in the
Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. The court finds high conflict because of the
following behavior(s):
___ a pattern of ongoing litigation;
___ chronic anger and distrust;
___ inability to communicate about the child;
___ inability to cooperate in the care of the child; or
___ other behaviors placing the child’s well-being at risk:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
[OR The court finds parallel parenting is appropriate to phase out
supervised parenting time.]
Accordingly, the court deviates from the Indiana Parenting Time
Guidelines, and now Orders the following Parallel Parenting Plan.
1. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DECISION-MAKING
1.1 Each parent has a responsibility to provide for the physical and emotional
needs of the child. Both parents are very important to the child and the child
needs both parents to be active parents throughout their lives. Both parents must
respect each parent's separate role with the child. Each parent must put the
child's needs first in planning and making arrangements involving the child.
1.2 When the child is scheduled to be with Father, then Father is the “on-duty”
parent. When the child is scheduled to be with Mother, then Mother is the “on-
duty” parent.
1.3 The on-duty parent shall make decisions about the day to day care and
control of the child.
1.4 This decision making is not to be confused with legal custody decision
making concerning education, health care and religious upbringing of the child.
These more significant decisions continue to be the exclusive responsibility of the
parent who has been designated as the sole custodial parent.
1.5 In making decisions about the day to day care and control of the child,
neither parent shall schedule activities for the child during the time the other
parent is on-duty without prior agreement of the on-duty parent.
1.6 Parents share a joint and equal responsibility for following parenting time
orders. The child shares none of this responsibility and should not be permitted
to shoulder the burden of this decision.
1.7 Unacceptable excuses for one parent denying parenting time to the other
include the following:
The child unjustifiably hesitates or refuses to go.
The child has a minor illness.
The child has to go somewhere.
The child is not home.
The noncustodial parent is behind in support.
The custodial parent does not want the child to go.
The weather is bad.
The child has no clothes to wear.
The other parent failed to meet preconditions established by the custodial
parent.
2. REGULAR PARENTING TIME
2.1 The parents shall follow this specific schedule so the child understands the
schedule.
2.2 [ ] Mother, or [ ] Father has sole custody of the child. The noncustodial
parent shall have regular contact with the child as listed below:
[ ] Every other weekend, from 6:00 p.m. on Friday until 6:00 p.m. on
Sunday.
[ ] Every other Saturday, from _______ a.m. until __________ p.m.
[ ] Every other Saturday and Sunday from ______ a.m. until
_________ p.m. each day.
[ ] ________________________________________________
[ ]________________________________________________
3. SUMMER PARENTING TIME SCHEDULE (use only if summer is
different than the Regular Parenting Time outlined above.)
3.1 Mother shall be on-duty and the child will be with Mother as follows:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3.2 Father shall be on duty and the child will be with Father as follows:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
4.1 Holiday Schedule Priority. The below detailed holiday schedule overrides
the above Regular Parenting Time Schedule. For listed holidays other than
Spring Break and Christmas Break, when a holiday falls on a weekend, the parent
who is on-duty for that holiday will be on-duty for the entire weekend unless
specifically stated otherwise. It is possible under some circumstances that the
holiday schedule could result in the child spending three (3) weekends in a row
with the same parent.
4.2 On New Year’s Eve/Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Easter,
Memorial Day, 4
th
of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Fall Break, birthdays of the
child and parents, and all other holidays / special days not specifically listed
below, the child shall remain with the parent they are normally scheduled to be
with that day, as provided in the Regular Parenting Time Schedule.
4.3 Spring Break. The child shall spend Spring Break with Father in odd
numbered years and with Mother in even numbered years. This period shall be
from two hours after the child is released from school before Spring Break, and
ending at 7:00 pm of the last day before school begins again.
4.4 Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The child shall spend Mother's Day
weekend with Mother, and Father's Day weekend with Father each year. These
periods shall be from Friday at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
4.5 Thanksgiving. The child shall spend the Thanksgiving holiday, from two
hours after the child is released from school Wednesday until Sunday at 7 p.m.
with Father in odd numbered years, and with Mother in even numbered years.
4.6 Christmas.
a. The child shall celebrate Christmas Eve, December 24, from 9:00 a.m.
until 9:00 p.m. with Mother in odd numbered years, and with Father in even
numbered years. The child shall celebrate Christmas Day, December 25, from
9:00 p.m. on December 24 until 6:00 p.m. on December 25 with Father in odd
numbered years, and with Mother in even numbered years. At 6:00 p.m. on
December 25, the Regular Parenting Time Schedule resumes.
Or
b. Other:______________________________________________
5. TRANSPORTATION OF THE CHILD
5.1 The parents shall arrive on time to drop off and pick up the child. The
parents shall deliver the child's clothing, school supplies and belongings at the
same time they deliver the child. The parents shall always attempt to return the
child's clothing in a clean condition.
5.2 When the child is scheduled to return to Father, then Father shall pick the
child up at [ ] Mother’s home or [ ] ___________________________.
5.3 When the child is scheduled to return to Mother, then Mother shall pick
the child up at [ ] Father’s home or [ ] ___________________________.
5.4 Special Provisions Regarding Exchange Participation: (if necessary)
Other than the parents, only __________________________ shall be
present when the child is exchanged.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
5.5 A parent may not enter the residence of the other, except by express
invitation, regardless of whether a parent retains a property interest in the
residence of the other. Accordingly, the child shall be picked up at the front
entrance of the appropriate residence or other location unless the parents agree
otherwise. The person delivering the child shall not leave until the child is safely
inside.
6. EMERGENCY CHANGES IN THE REGULAR PARENTING TIME
SCHEDULE
6.1 Although the child needs living arrangements that are predictable, if an
unexpected or unavoidable emergency comes up, the parents shall give each
other as much notice as possible.
6.2 If unable to agree on a requested change to the schedule, the Regular
Parenting Time Schedule shall be followed. If an emergency results in the need
for child care, the on-duty parent shall make the child care arrangements and pay
for the cost of child care, unless otherwise agreed.
6.3 Unless the parents agree, any missed parenting time shall not later be
made up.
7. COMMUNICATION
7.1 Communication Book. The parents shall always use a "communication
book" to communicate with each other on the child’s education, health care, and
activities. The communication book should be a spiral or hardbound notebook.
The communication book will travel with the child, so that information about the
child will be transmitted between the parents with minimal contact between
parents.
7.2 Neutrality of the Child. To keep the child out of the middle of the parents’
relationship and any conflict that may arise between the parents, the parents
shall not:
7.1.1 Ask the child about the other parent, or
7.1.2 Ask the child to give messages to the other parent, or
7.1.3 Make unkind or negative statements about the other parent around
the child.
7.1.4 Allow other people to make unkind or negative statements about the
other parent around the child.
7.3 Dignity and Respect. The parents shall treat each other with dignity and
respect in the presence of the child. The parents shall keep conversations short
and calm when exchanging the child so the child will not become afraid or
anxious.
7.4 Telephone Contact. The child may have private telephone access to the
other parent [ ] at all times or [ ] between the hours of _______ and _______.
The parents shall encourage and help the child stay in touch with the other
parent.
7.5 The parents shall not interfere with communication between the child and
the other parent by actions such as: refusing to answer a phone or refusing to
allow the child or others to answer; recording phone conversations between the
other parent and the child; turning off the phone or using a call blocking
mechanism or otherwise denying the other parent telephone contact with the
child.
7.7 Notice of Travel. Before leaving on out of town travel, the parents shall
provide each other the address and phone number where the child can be
reached if they will be away from home for more than 48 hours.
7.8 The parents shall at all times keep each other advised of their home and
work addresses and telephone numbers. Notice of any change in this information
shall be given to the other parent in the communication book at the next
exchange.
8. SAFETY (use the following provisions only as necessary)
8.1 Neither parent shall operate a vehicle when impaired by use of alcohol or
drugs.
8.2 [] Mother []Father [] Both parents shall not use alcohol or non-prescribed
drugs when they are the on-duty parent.
8.3 The parents shall not leave the child _________ unattended at any time.
8.4 [] Mother []Father [] Both parents shall not use, nor allow anyone else to
use, physical discipline with the child.
8.5 _______________ shall not use physical discipline with the child.
8.6 All contact between the child and _______________ shall be
supervised by ___________________.
8.7 Neither parent shall allow the child to be in the presence of
______________________________________________________
9. EDUCATION
9.1 The custodial parent shall determine where the child attends school.
9.2 Both parents shall instruct the child's schools to list each parent and their
respective addresses and telephone numbers on the school's records.
9.3 Each parent will maintain contact with the child's schools to find out about
the child’s needs, progress, grades, parent-teacher conferences, and other special
events.
9.4 The parents shall use the "communication book" to share information
about the child's school progress, behavior and events.
10. EXTENDED FAMILY
10.1 The child will usually benefit from maintaining ties with grandparents,
relatives and people important to them. The parents shall help the child continue
to be in contact with these people.
10.2 However, as provided above at “SAFETY,” [ ] all contact between the child
and _______________ shall be supervised by ___________________
[ ] neither parent shall allow the child to be in the presence of
_____________________________________________________
11. CHILD CARE
11.1 Arranging for normal, day-to-day work-related child care for the child is
the responsibility of the [ ] custodial parent [ ] on-duty parent.
11.2 When occasional other situations require child care for the child when the
child is with the on-duty parent, the on-duty parent is not required to offer the
other parent the chance to provide this care before seeking someone else to care
for the child. However, in such situations, the on-duty parent shall make any
needed occasional child care arrangements, and the on-duty parent shall pay the
cost of that child care.
11.3 Only the following listed persons may provide occasional child care for the
child:
_______________________________________________________.
11.4 If the [ ] Mother [ ] Father anticipates being unable to personally supervise
the child during the parent’s entire schedule on-duty time, the [ ] Mother [ ]
Father must notify the other parent as soon as possible, and that parent’s on-duty
time for that [ ] day [ ] weekend will be cancelled, and not made up at any later
time.
12. HEALTH CARE
12.1 Major decisions about health care (such as the need for surgery, glasses,
contacts, prescription medications, orthodontia, etc., and the need for regular,
on-going medical appointments and treatments, etc.) shall be made by the
custodial parent.
12.2 Each parent has a right to the child's medical, dental, optical and other
health care information and records. Each parent will contact the child's heath
care providers to find out about the child’s heath care needs, treatments and
progress. The custodial parent shall give written authorization to the child's
health care providers, permitting an ongoing release of all information regarding
the child to the non-custodial parent including the right of the provider to discuss
the child's situation with the non-custodial parent.
12.3 The parents shall use the "communication book" to communicate with
each other on all health care issues for the child.
12.4 The on-duty parent shall make sure the child takes all prescription
medication and follow all prescribed health care treatments.
12.5 In medical emergencies concerning the child, the on-duty parent shall
notify the other parent of the emergency as soon as it is possible. In such
emergencies, each parent can consent to emergency medical treatment for the
child, as needed.
13. RELOCATION FROM CURRENT RESIDENCE
13.1 When either parent considers a change of residence, a 90 day advance
notice of the intent to move must be provided to the other parent and filed with
the court.
13.2 The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines have a more det ailed discussion of
the statutory notice requirements at Section I.E.4, “Relocation.”
14. EVENT ATTENDANCE
14.1 When the child is attending their sports team, club, religious, or other
such events at school or elsewhere, [ ] only the on-duty parent [ ] both parents
may attend the event.
14.2 The custodial parent is permitted to enroll the child in
_________________ extracurricular activity. The non-custodial parent shall
encourage this participation.
15. A CHILD’S BASIC NEEDS
To insure more responsible parenting and to promote the healthy
adjustment and growth of the child, each parent should recognize and address
the child's basic needs. Those needs include the following:
15.1 To know that the parents' decision to live apart is not the child's fault.
15.2 To develop and maintain an independent relationship with each parent
and to have the continuing care and guidance from each parent.
15.3 To be free from having to side with either parent and to be free from
conflict between the parents.
15.4 To have a relaxed, secure relationship with each parent without being
placed in a position to manipulate one parent against the other.
15.5. To enjoy consistent time with each parent.
15.6. To be finan cially supported by each parent, regardless of how much time
each parent spends with the child.
15.7. To be physically safe and adequately supervised when in the care of each
parent and to have a stable, consistent and responsible child care arrangement
when not supervised by a parent.
15.8. To develop and maintain meaningful relationships with other significant
adults (grandparents, stepparents and other relatives) as long as these
relationships do not interfere with or replace the child's primary relationship
with the parents.
16 RESOLVING DISPUTES
16.1 Because this is an Order of the court, both parents must continue to follow
this Parallel Parenting Plan even if the other parent does not.
16.2 When the parents cannot agree on the meaning or application of some
part of this Parallel Parenting Plan, or if a significant change (such as a move or
remarriage) causes conflict between the parents, both parents shall make a good
faith effort to resolve those differences before returning to the court for relief. In
most situations, the court will require the parents to attend mediation before any
court hearing will be conducted.
16.3 The parties shall attend ______________________ counseling /
parenting education program.
DATE: ______, 20__ ________________________________
COMMISSIONER/MAGISTRATE/JUDGE
The above entry is adopted as the Order of the Court on this same date.
___________________________
JUDGE
Copies to: Attorney for Petitioner,
Attorney for Respondent,
Mediator:
DATE OF NOTICE:
INITIAL OF PERSON WHO NOTIFIED PARTIES: COURT CLERK OTHER
