Parenting Tools

Parenting Plan Checklist

A Utah parenting plan has to settle legal custody, physical custody, the custody schedule Utah calls parent-time, holidays and how the two of you will decide things later — the requirements come from Utah Code § 81-9-101 and § 81-9-302. A plan missing any of them gets sent back.

Based on Utah Code § 81-9-101 and § 81-9-302

Custody

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Legal custody designation (joint or sole) with decision-making process
Specifies whether both parents share major decisions or one parent decides alone. Joint legal custody is most common in Utah; include a process for how decisions are made when parents disagree.
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Physical custody designation (primary or joint)
Defines where the child primarily lives. Primary physical custody means one parent has the child more than half the time; joint physical custody means at least 111 overnights per year with each parent.
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Which parent is 'custodial parent' for legal, school, and insurance purposes
Courts and schools often require a single point of contact. Your plan should name which parent's address is used for school enrollment, insurance, and government records — even in joint custody.

Parent-Time Schedule

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Regular weekly schedule (which days, pickup/dropoff times)
Specify exact days and times for each parent. Include who picks up and who drops off, and the location of exchanges. Ambiguity here is the #1 source of post-divorce conflict.
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Holiday schedule (every major holiday with specific times)
Utah Code § 81-9-302 lists the standard holidays. Your plan must address each one with exact start and end times — not just 'Christmas' but 'December 24 at 6:00 PM through December 25 at 12:00 PM.'
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School break schedule (fall break, spring break, summer)
School breaks often override the regular weekly schedule. Specify how each break is divided, when summer begins and ends, and how mid-week transitions are handled.
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Birthday and special occasion provisions
Address the child's birthday, each parent's birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and any significant cultural or religious observances your family celebrates.
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Makeup parent-time provisions
What happens when a scheduled visit is missed due to illness, travel, or other unavoidable reasons? Utah Code § 81-9-302(2) gives a right to makeup time — your plan should specify how it is scheduled.

Communication

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How parents communicate about the children
Specify the preferred method (email, co-parenting app, text) and expected response time for non-emergency matters. Many plans require a co-parenting app such as OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents.
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Child's right to contact both parents
Each parent must allow the child reasonable phone or video contact with the other parent. Your plan should set a reasonable time window (e.g., 7–8 PM daily) so neither parent can block access.
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Social media and privacy provisions
Optional but increasingly common — addresses what photos may be posted publicly, whether the child's school or activities may be shared online, and privacy expectations.

Decision-Making

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Routine decisions by each parent in their own home
Each parent may make day-to-day decisions (bedtime, diet, activities) without consulting the other during their own parent-time. This does not require joint consultation.
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Major decisions requiring joint agreement (education, medical, religion)
Joint legal custody requires both parents to agree on school enrollment, elective medical procedures, religious upbringing, and other significant decisions. Define what counts as 'major.'
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Tie-breaking mechanism if parents cannot agree
Common options: a designated tiebreaker parent for specific categories (e.g., education decisions go to Mother, medical decisions go to Father), or mandatory mediation before court intervention.
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Emergency medical decision protocol
Either parent may consent to emergency medical treatment without the other's approval. Your plan should confirm this and specify how quickly the other parent must be notified.

Transportation

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Who provides transportation at each exchange
Common approaches: the receiving parent always picks up; parents alternate; the departing parent always drops off. Be specific — 'whoever is picking up the child' avoids blame when someone is late.
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Exchange location (neutral site, school, or home)
High-conflict situations may require a neutral exchange location such as a police station, library, or school. Specify the address and whether curbside or inside pickup is expected.
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How travel expenses are handled
If parents live far apart, specify who pays for flights, fuel, or mileage. Many plans split long-distance travel costs proportionally by income.

Relocation

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Notice requirement before moving (Utah typically requires 60+ days notice)
Utah Code § 81-9-209 requires a parent who intends to relocate 150+ miles from the other parent to provide written notice at least 60 days in advance. Your plan should mirror or exceed this requirement.
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What happens if one parent wants to relocate out of state
Specify the process: written notice, opportunity to object, mediation before court, and how the parent-time schedule will be modified if relocation is approved by the court.

Financial

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Child support amount and payment method
Utah uses an income shares model. Include the monthly amount, due date, and payment method (direct deposit, Utah ORS, etc.). Child support is calculated separately using the Utah child support worksheet.
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Medical expense split (usually pro-rata by income)
Uninsured medical, dental, and vision costs are typically divided proportionally to each parent's income. Specify a dollar threshold for expenses that require prior notice (e.g., anything over $100).
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Health insurance — which parent carries it
Specify which parent carries the child on their health, dental, and vision insurance. If both have access, address which plan is primary. Include what happens if coverage is lost.
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Extracurricular activity approval and cost-sharing
Address whether both parents must agree before enrolling the child in a new activity, and how costs are split. A common provision: activities in place at the time of divorce continue; new activities require mutual agreement.
Required parenting course: Utah requires completion of an approved parenting course before the court will enter your final decree. See /resources/parenting-plan for a list of approved courses.
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