1
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ROCKDALE COUNTY
STATE OF GEORGIA
_______________________, * CIVIL ACTION FILE NO.:
Plaintiff, * ___________________
*
VS. *
*
_______________________, *
Defendant. *
PERMANENT PARENTING PLAN ORDER
The mother and father will be courteous toward each other and each child(ren) so as to
provide a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child even though
they are not married. They will not speak badly of each other or the members of the family
of the other parent. They will encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and
be comfortable in both families.
This plan ( ) is a new plan.
( ) modifies an existing Parenting Plan dated _____________.
( ) modifies an existing Order dated ____________________.
Child’s Names
Dates of Birth
I. Custody and Decision Making:
A. Legal Custody shall be (choose one:)
( ) with the Mother
( ) with the Father
( ) Joint
B. Primary Physical Custodian
Upon the completion of the terms and conditions listed in the parties Final Judgment and
Decree, for each of the children named below the primary physical custodian shall be:
d/o/b:
( ) Mother
( ) Father
( ) Joint
2
d/o/b:
( ) Mother
( )
Father
( ) Joint
d/o/b:
( ) Mother
( ) Father
( ) Joint
d/o/b:
( )Mother
( ) Father
( ) Joint
d/o/b:
( ) Mother
( ) Father ( ) Joint
C. Day-To-Day Decisions
Each parent shall make decisions regarding the day-to-day care of the children
while the children is residing with that parent, including any emergency decisions
affecting the health or safety of the children.
D. Major Decisions
Major decisions regarding each child shall be made as follows:
Educational decisions ( ) mother ( ) father () joint
Non-emergency health care ( ) mother ( ) father () joint
Religious upbringing ( ) mother ( ) father () joint
Extracurricular activities ( ) mother ( ) father () joint
E. Disagreements
(XX) The party with primary physical custody will be the tie breaker.
( ) Mother ( ) Father will have the tie breaker as the primary physical
custodian
II. Parenting and Visitation Schedule
The Parents Agree to the Following (check all that apply):
(XX) The parents shall make genuine efforts to refrain from arguments concerning
visitations. Such arguments undermine the parents' relationship with the children and
burden the children with the guilt of responsibility for such friction. The parents shall
endeavor to cooperate with the children with the goal of reducing the strife and confusion
surrounding the children. It is beneficial that the children experience affectionate care
from both parents and both of the parties hereto acknowledge that visitation exists
primarily for the benefit of the children.
(XX) Both parties shall be diligent in having the children ready with the necessary
belongings and available at the appointed times and the transporting party shall be
prompt in picking up and delivering the children, provided, however, that the
transporting parent for visitation shall have a grace period of fifteen (15) minutes
3
for pick-up and delivery if both parties live within a distance of fifty (50) miles
from each other. If the one-way distance to be traveled is in excess of one hundred
(100) miles, the grace period shall be one (1) hour. In the event the visiting parent
exceeds the grace period, the visitation for that weekend is forfeited unless prior
notification and arrangements have been made and except in cases where the
visiting parent suffers an unavoidable breakdown or delay en route and the visiting
parent promptly notifies the custodial parent by phone of the delay. Repeated
violations by either parent shall be cause for granting a modification of the custody
order either by changing custody or curtailing visitation, as the case may be.
(XX) In the event that either of the children develop a serious illness or injury
while visiting with one parent, that parent shall promptly inform the other parent
of the children's condition. Elective surgery shall be performed on a specific child
only after both parents have consented to the same. Emergency surgery necessary
for the preservation of life or to prevent a further serious injury or condition may
be performed without the other parent's consent, provided, however, that if time
permits, the other parent shall be consulted and, in any event, he or she shall be
informed as soon as possible.
(XX) If either parent decides to relocate more than twenty-five miles away from
the other parent's home, the moving parent will give the other parent written
notice of the intent to relocate no less than 30 days prior to the date of moving.
(XX) The parent in possession of the minor children will be responsible for
supervising and assisting in any schoolwork immediately due and for any activity
scheduled for the children. The parents agree to give each other reasonable notice
of any activities scheduled during the other parent's possession of the children.
B Visitation
During the term of this parenting plan the non-custodial parent shall have at a
minimum the following rights of visitation (choose an item):
( ) The first and third weekend of each month.
( ) The first, third, and fifth weekend of each month.
( ) The second and fourth weekend of each month starting on _____________ from
______________ until ___________________.
(XX) Every other weekend from Friday at 6:00 pm until Sunday at 6:00 pm. The non-
custodial parent shall be responsible for transporting the minor children to and from school
and/or to and from the custodial parents residence.
( ) Each __________ starting at, ______ _a.m./p.m. and ending ___________ a.m./p.m.
( ) Other: In addition, ___________________ shall have visitation with the minor
children every __________________________ from after school or ________ pm until
4
________ pm. Mother / Father shall be responsible for transporting the minor children to
and from school and/or to and from the Mother’s / Fathers residence.
Exception:
This parenting time schedule shall begin:
( XX ) Date this Order is signed OR ( ) upon the completion of an alcohol
evaluation and treatment as ordered in the parties Final Judgment and Decree.
Holiday visitation shall supersede but shall not reset this normal parenting time schedule.
Fall Vacation (if applicable)
Define: The fall vacation shall be defined as the children’s fall break from school,
typically taken in October.
Thanksgiving
In even numbered years, ( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have the right to have the
children from _______ am/pm on the last day of required school attendance prior to the
Thanksgiving holiday through _______ am/pm on Thanksgiving Day, and ( ) Mother ( )
Father shall have the right to have the children from _______ am/pm Thanksgiving Day
through _______ am/pm the day before the children return to school.
In odd numbered years, ( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have the right to have the
children from _______ am/pm on the last day of required school attendance prior to the
Thanksgiving holiday through 4:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and ( ) Mother ( )
Father shall have the right to have the children from _______ am/pm. Thanksgiving Day
until the children return to school.
Christmas
Every year for Christmas holidays, ( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have right to have
the children from after school at _______ am/pm on the last day of required school
attendance before the children’s Christmas holiday period through Christmas Eve
(December 24
th
) at _______ am/pm.
Every year for Christmas holidays, ( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have right to have
the children from December 24
th
at _______ am/pm until the children are to return to
school.
Spring Vacation
Define: The spring vacation shall be defined as the children’s spring break from
school, typically taken in April.
( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have the right to have the children in odd numbered
years for the children’s spring break from school (if such a break exists in the school
calendar) from _______ am/pm on the last day of required school attendance prior to the
beginning of the spring break through _______ am/pm. on the day before the children
5
return to school at the end of the spring break.
( ) Mother ( ) Father shall have the right to have the children in even numbered
years for the child’s spring break from school (if such a break exists in the school
calendar) from _______ am/pm. on the last day of required school attendance prior to the
beginning of the spring break until the children return to school at the end of the spring
break.
Summer Vacation
Define summer vacation period: The summer vacation shall be defined as the
child’s summer break from school.
( ) Mother ( ) Father shall each be permitted to designate two (2) weeks which
they desire to spend with the children during the children’s summer vacation from school
free from any visitation rights of the other parent. The said weeks can be taken in one
week blocks unless the other party agrees to vary from this provision. Each of the
parties’ one week blocks shall be separated by at least seven days unless the other parent
consents to a variation from same. The parties shall cooperate each year in scheduling and
coordinating their summer visitation periods with the children. In the event that the
parties are unable to agree on their respective weeks to spend with the children in the
upcoming summer, Father shall have first choice of said weeks in odd numbered years,
and Mother shall have first choice of said weeks in even numbered years. The parties
shall coordinate and designate the weeks that each will spend with the children for the
upcoming summer no later than April 30
th
of each year.
In the event the children are enrolled in summer school, then each party shall have
a period of one (1) week visitation during the summer in accordance with the above
terms.
Further, the children shall be in the custody and care of the Mother during the
week prior to school beginning for the benefit of school orientation.
Major Holidays
All other major holidays and other school breaks (i.e. Martin Luther King Day,
President’s Day, Columbus Day, teacher workdays, staff development days, snow days,
etc.) shall be added to either party’s respective alternating weekend.
Parent’s Birthday/Mother’s/Father’s Day
Mother is to have the children for Mother’s Day from Saturday at _______
am/pm. until Mother’s Day at _______ am/pm and on Mother’s birthday for a minimum
of two (2) hours if the children are in school and a minimum of four (4) hours if they are
not in school. Father is to have the children for Father’s Day from Saturday at _______
am/pm. until Father’s Day at _______ am/pm. and on Father’s birthday for a minimum of
two (2) hours if the children are in school and a minimum of four (4) hours if they are not
in school. In the event there is a conflict between the summer vacation schedule and the
Father’s Day visitation, the Father’s Day visitation shall control.
6
Child’s Birthdays
For the children’s birthdays - realizing that these days will be on different days
each year, the parties agree that each shall be entitled to spend time with each respective
child on his/her birthdays. The parties agree that they will cooperate with each other to
make adequate arrangements so that the child’s birthdays will be celebrated with each of
the parents.
D. Other extended periods of time during school, etc. (refer to the school schedule)
________________________________________________________________
E. Start and end dates for holiday visitation
For the purposes of this parenting plan, the holiday will start and end as follows (choose
one):
(__) Holidays that fall on Friday will include the following Saturday and Sunday
( ) Holidays that fall on Monday will include the preceding Saturday and Sunday
F. Transportation Arrangements
For visitation, the place of meeting for the exchange of the child shall be:
( ) Mother ( ) Father shall pick the child up from either the childrens school or the ( )
Mother’s ( ) Father’s residence at the beginning of his visitation periods and return the
children to the ( ) Mother ( ) Father at the conclusion of the visitation periods unless
picking up or dropping off at school when appropriate.
Payment of long distance transportation costs (if applicable) will be paid by:
( ) mother ( ) father ( ) both equally
Define “long distance” for purposes of transportation: ________________
Other arrangements:
If a parent does not possess a valid driver's license, he or she must make reasonable
transportation arrangements to protect the children while in the care of that parent.
G. Changes and Cancellations (please check all that apply):
( ) The parents may make permanent changes to the visitation schedule, without further
order of this Court, if mutually agreeable with both parties and such changes will be
reduced to writing, signed and notarized by both parents.
( ) The parents may make temporary changes to the visitation schedule verbally if both
parents agree. Such scheduled visitation changes shall be made when possible at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of the scheduled visitation.
( ) If the non-custodial parent IS NOT going to exercise normally scheduled visitation,
the non-custodial parent will notify the custodial parent forty-eight (48) hours prior to the
scheduled visitation.
7
(XX) The custodial parent will notify the non-custodial parent as early as possible but not
less than twelve hours in advance of a scheduled visitation if the child is ill and unable to
participate in the visitation period. If visitation is canceled by the custodial parent for this
reason three times in a six week period, subsequent cancellations will be accompanied with
a physician's statement confirming the illness.
(__) If the parents cannot agree on a requested change in the visitation schedule, the
parents agree to seek voluntary mediation to resolve the differences prior to filing a
modification with the Court. If mediation is requested, the cost of mediation will be paid
by (choose one) [the party requesting the change / both parties equally / other:
H. Telephone Access
The parents agree that when the children reside with one, the other parent will have the
right to unimpeded telephone conversations with the children as follows (check all that
apply):
( Unrestricted telephone access to the children during reasonable hours and of
reasonable duration.
( Telephone calls to the child per week with the duration of each call not to exceed
_________________minutes.
( ) The children are allowed to call either parent at any time.
Neither parent will monitor the telephone conversations the children have with the
other parent.
( ) Neither parent will use the children to communicate messages to the other parent.
Other provisions for telephone access:
M. Supervision of Parenting Time (if applicable)
( ) Check here if Applicable
Supervised parenting time shall apply during the day-to-day schedule as follows:
Place:______________________________________________________
Person/Organization supervising: _______________________________
Responsibility for cost:
( ) mother ( ) father ( ) both equally
N. Conduct and Communication Provisions
Please check all that apply:
(XX) Each parent shall promptly notify the other parent of a change of address, phone
number or cell phone number so that the other parent may exercise visitation, notify the
other parent, and reach the children while in the other parent's possession. (Please see
relocation provision in Section II above pertaining to moves of greater distances).
( ) The child will not be left alone until the age of________
8
(XX) Neither parent will
(XX) Discuss past, present or future litigation with the children;
(XX) Complain about, criticize, or blame the other parent in the presence of the
children and shall instruct others to refrain from such conduct in the presence of the
children;
(XX) Accuse the other parent of being at fault in the presence of the children;
(XX) Use the children as a "bargaining chip" to influence the actions of the
other parent;
(XX) Make negative, critical or hurtful comments about the other party's
family members in the presence of the minor children; and
(XX) Use profanity in any conversation with the other parent in the children's
presence or go into the other parent's home without consent.
III. Access to Records
A. Rights of the Parents
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 19-9-1 (b) (1) (D), both parents are entitled to access to all of the
children's records and information, including, but not limited to, education, health,
extracurricular activities, and religious communications. Designation as a non-custodial
parent does not affect a parent's right to equal access to these records. However, the parties
may agree to limitations on access to records.
Please list any agreed to limitations on access rights: _____________________________
B. School Records Access / Communication Provisions (check all that
apply):
(XX)
Each parent shall take the necessary action with school authorities of the schools in
which the children is enrolled to:
A. List both parents as a parent of the children;
B. Authorize the school to release to both parents any and all information
concerning the children;
C. Ensure that both parents receive copies of any notices regarding the
children.
(XX) Each parent will be entitled to complete, detailed information or reports from any
teacher or school pertaining to the children, their schoolwork, their educational needs,
their conduct, or opportunities available to the children.
IV. Disagreements or Modification of Plan
Should the parents disagree about this parenting plan or wish to modify it, they must make
a good faith effort to resolve the issue between them. Possible channels for resolution of
disputes include mediation, arbitration, or the Court. Please indicate below your preferred
method of dispute resolution.
( ) Mediation by a neutral party chosen by the parents or the Court.
9
( ) Arbitration by a neutral party selected by parents or the Court.
(XX) The Court
( ) Other:
_______________________________________________
The costs of this process may be determined by the alternative dispute process or may be
assessed by the Court based upon the incomes of the parents. It must be commenced by
notifying the other parent and the Court by ( ) written request ( ) certified mail ( ) other:
In the dispute resolution process:
1. Preference shall be given to carrying out this parenting plan.
2. The parents shall use the process to resolve disputes relating to implementation of
the Plan.
3. A written record shall be prepared of any agreement reached, and it shall be
provided to each parent.
4. If the Court finds that a parent willfully failed to appear without good reason, the
Court, upon motion, may award attorney fees and financial sanctions to the
prevailing parent.
V. Special Considerations
Please attach an addendum detailing any special circumstances of which the Court should
be aware (e.g., health issues, educational issues, etc.
ORDER
The Court has reviewed the foregoing Parenting Plan and it is hereby made the
Order of the Court.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED, this ____ day of ________________,
20___.
__________________________________
___________________________, Judge
Rockdale County Superior Court