PARENTING PLAN

Superior Court of the District of Columbia — Family Court Operations Division

Case Number: [________________________________]

Filed in Connection With: ☐ Divorce / Legal Separation ☐ Custody Complaint ☐ Custody Modification ☐ Paternity and Custody ☐ Other: [________________________________]

D.C. PARENTING PLAN STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

Under D.C. Code § 16-914(f), the Court may order the parents to submit a detailed parenting plan addressing the child(ren)'s residence, financial support, visitation, holidays, transportation, education, religious training, access to records, health care decision-making, communication between parents and child(ren), and methods for resolving future disputes. This Plan is prepared in compliance with that authority and the sixteen (16) best-interest factors enumerated in D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3).

The District of Columbia maintains a rebuttable presumption favoring joint custody under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(2), unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a party committed an intrafamily offense (as defined in D.C. Code § 16-1001), child abuse, child neglect, or parental kidnapping.

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES AND CHILDREN

1.1 Parent A

Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Washington, D.C. [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Employer: [________________________________]
Work Schedule: [________________________________]

1.2 Parent B

Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Washington, D.C. [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Employer: [________________________________]
Work Schedule: [________________________________]

1.3 Minor Child(ren)

1.4 Other Individuals in the Household

Parent A's Household:
[________________________________]

Parent B's Household:
[________________________________]

(Note: Under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3)(C), the court considers the child's interaction and interrelationship with parents, siblings, and "any other person who may emotionally or psychologically affect the child's best interest.")

SECTION 2: LEGAL CUSTODY — DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY

2.1 Legal Custody Designation

Under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(1)(A), the Court may award joint legal custody or sole legal custody. "Legal custody" means legal responsibility for a child, including the right to make decisions regarding the child's health, education, and general welfare, and the right of access to records.

☐ Joint Legal Custody — Both Parents share equally the right and responsibility to make major decisions. The rebuttable presumption of D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(2) favoring joint custody applies.

☐ Sole Legal Custody to Parent A — Parent A has exclusive decision-making authority. Basis: [________________________________]

☐ Sole Legal Custody to Parent B — Parent B has exclusive decision-making authority. Basis: [________________________________]

2.2 Major Decision-Making Allocation

For joint legal custody, the following allocation of major decision-making applies:

2.3 Decision-Making Process

When joint decision-making applies:
1. The initiating Parent shall provide written notice (email or co-parenting application) describing the proposed decision.
2. The other Parent shall respond within [____] calendar days.
3. If Parents cannot reach agreement, they shall submit the dispute to the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the D.C. Superior Court for mediation before seeking judicial intervention. Contact: (202) 879-3180.
4. Emergency medical decisions may be made by the Parent with physical custody at the time of the emergency, with immediate notice to the other Parent.

SECTION 3: PHYSICAL CUSTODY — PARENTING TIME SCHEDULE

3.1 Physical Custody Designation

Under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(1)(B), the Court may award joint physical custody or sole physical custody.

☐ Joint Physical Custody — The child(ren) shall reside with both Parents on a substantially equal or shared basis per the schedule below.

☐ Primary Physical Custody to Parent A — The child(ren) shall reside primarily with Parent A. Parent B shall have parenting time per the schedule below.

☐ Primary Physical Custody to Parent B — The child(ren) shall reside primarily with Parent B. Parent A shall have parenting time per the schedule below.

3.2 Address for School Enrollment

The child(ren)'s address for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) enrollment and lottery purposes, or public charter school enrollment, shall be: [________________________________]

(Note: D.C. school enrollment requires proof of D.C. residency. This designation affects DCPS boundary school assignment and My School DC lottery eligibility.)

3.3 Regular Parenting Time Schedule — School Year

Select a schedule or specify a custom arrangement:

☐ Option A: Alternating Weeks (Week On / Week Off)
Parent A: Monday after school through the following Monday morning school drop-off (Week 1)
Parent B: Monday after school through the following Monday morning school drop-off (Week 2)

☐ Option B: 2-2-3 Rotation
Monday-Tuesday: Parent A
Wednesday-Thursday: Parent B
Friday through Sunday: Alternating (Parent A on Week 1, Parent B on Week 2)

☐ Option C: 5-2-2-5 Rotation
Monday-Friday: Alternating two-week blocks
Weekends: Alternating

☐ Option D: Primary Custody with Visitation
Primary Parent: [________________________________]
Other Parent's parenting time:
- Alternating weekends: Friday [____] PM to Sunday [____] PM
- Midweek: [________________________________] from [____] PM to [____] PM
- Additional: [________________________________]

☐ Option E: Custom Schedule
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

3.4 Regular Parenting Time Schedule — Summer

☐ The school-year schedule continues through summer.
☐ Modified summer schedule:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Each Parent shall have [____] weeks of uninterrupted vacation time during summer, with at least thirty (30) days' written notice.

3.5 Holiday Schedule

Holidays supersede the regular parenting time schedule. D.C.-specific holidays are included.

3.6 Exchanges and Transportation

Primary Exchange Location: [________________________________]
(Common D.C. exchange points: Moultrie Courthouse at 500 Indiana Avenue NW; Metropolitan Police Department district stations; the child's school or daycare; Metro stations by mutual agreement.)

Exchange Protocol:
☐ Receiving parent picks up the child(ren).
☐ Delivering parent drops off the child(ren).
☐ Shared (describe): [________________________________]

Late Pick-Up/Drop-Off: If a parent will be more than [____] minutes late, that parent shall notify the other parent immediately. After [____] minutes without notice, the waiting parent may leave.

3.7 Right of First Refusal

If either Parent is unable to care for the child(ren) for more than [____] consecutive hours during that Parent's scheduled parenting time, the unavailable Parent shall first offer the time to the other Parent before arranging third-party childcare.

☐ Right of first refusal applies. Threshold: [____] hours.
☐ Right of first refusal does not apply.

SECTION 4: COMMUNICATION PROVISIONS

4.1 Parent-to-Parent Communication

Parents shall communicate regarding child-related matters through:
☐ Email
☐ Text message
☐ Co-parenting application (e.g., OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

All communication shall be respectful and child-focused.

4.2 Parent-Child Communication During Other Parent's Time

The child(ren) shall have reasonable telephone and/or video contact with the non-residential Parent during the other Parent's parenting time:
- Frequency: [________________________________]
- Preferred time: [________________________________]
- Maximum duration: [________________________________]

The residential Parent shall facilitate and not interfere with this communication.

4.3 Emergency Notification

Each Parent shall notify the other within [____] hours of any emergency, serious illness, injury, hospitalization, or contact with law enforcement involving the child(ren).

4.4 Non-Disparagement

Neither Parent shall make negative, derogatory, or disparaging remarks about the other Parent, the other Parent's household members, or the other Parent's family in the child(ren)'s presence or hearing. Neither Parent shall allow third parties to do so.

SECTION 5: EDUCATION PROVISIONS

5.1 School Selection

The child(ren) shall attend:
☐ DCPS boundary school based on the designated residential address
☐ D.C. public charter school: [________________________________]
☐ Private school: [________________________________]
☐ To be determined jointly by the Parents

For purposes of the My School DC lottery and DCPS enrollment, the child(ren)'s primary address shall be: [________________________________]

5.2 School-Related Responsibilities

• School communications: Both Parents shall be listed as contacts and receive all school communications.
• Parent-teacher conferences: ☐ Both Parents attend jointly ☐ Parents attend separately ☐ Alternate attendance
• Homework and academic support: Each Parent shall ensure homework completion during their parenting time.
• School events: Both Parents may attend school events. Parents shall conduct themselves respectfully toward each other.
• Transportation to/from school: [________________________________]

5.3 Extracurricular Activities

☐ Both Parents must agree before enrolling the child(ren) in extracurricular activities.
☐ Either Parent may enroll the child(ren) during their own parenting time.
☐ Activities must not unreasonably interfere with the other Parent's parenting time.

Cost allocation: ☐ Shared equally ☐ Proportional to income ☐ Enrolling parent pays ☐ Other: [________________________________]

SECTION 6: HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS

6.1 Health Insurance

☐ Parent A shall maintain health, dental, and vision insurance for the child(ren).
☐ Parent B shall maintain health, dental, and vision insurance for the child(ren).
☐ Both Parents shall maintain coverage, with Parent [____]'s plan as primary.

6.2 Unreimbursed Medical Expenses

Unreimbursed medical, dental, vision, mental health, orthodontic, and prescription expenses shall be:
☐ Shared equally (50/50)
☐ Shared proportionally based on income (Parent A: [____]% / Parent B: [____]%)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

The Parent incurring the expense shall provide documentation within [____] days. The other Parent shall reimburse their share within [____] days.

6.3 Health Care Providers

Primary care physician: [________________________________]
Dentist: [________________________________]
Other specialists: [________________________________]

Changes to providers require: ☐ Joint agreement ☐ Notice to other Parent

6.4 Mental Health Services

☐ The child(ren) are currently receiving therapy/counseling with [________________________________].
☐ Both Parents must consent before initiating mental health services for the child(ren).
☐ Either Parent may initiate an evaluation, with notice to the other Parent.

6.5 Emergency Medical Care

The Parent with physical custody may authorize emergency medical care. That Parent shall notify the other Parent as soon as practicable, and no later than [____] hours after the emergency.

SECTION 7: RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING

☐ The child(ren) shall be raised in the [________________________________] faith tradition.
☐ The child(ren) shall be exposed to both Parents' faith traditions.
☐ Each Parent may include the child(ren) in religious activities during their parenting time.
☐ No specific religious upbringing designated.
☐ Other: [________________________________]

SECTION 8: RELOCATION

The District of Columbia has no specific relocation statute. Relocation disputes are governed by case law and the best-interest analysis under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3), including factor (I) — "the potential disruption of the child's social and school life" — and factor (J) — "the geographic proximity of the parental homes as this relates to the practical considerations of the child's residential schedule."

8.1 Notice Requirement

A Parent who intends to relocate shall provide written notice to the other Parent at least [____] days before the proposed move, including:
- The proposed new address
- The reason for the proposed relocation
- A proposed revised parenting schedule
- The impact on the child(ren)'s current school and activities

8.2 Relocation Within the District of Columbia

☐ Relocation within the District of Columbia is permitted with [____] days' notice.
☐ Relocation within the District of Columbia requires mutual agreement.

8.3 Relocation Outside the District of Columbia

Relocation outside the District of Columbia requires:
☐ Written consent of both Parents, OR
☐ Court approval after a best-interest analysis under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3)

The relocating Parent bears the burden of demonstrating that relocation serves the child(ren)'s best interests.

SECTION 9: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SAFETY PROVISIONS

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3)(L), the Court considers evidence of intrafamily offenses as defined in D.C. Code § 16-1001(8).

☐ No history of intrafamily offense. This section does not apply.

☐ Intrafamily offense history exists. The following safety provisions are incorporated:

• ☐ Supervised exchanges at [________________________________]
• ☐ Supervised visitation at [________________________________]
• ☐ No direct communication between Parents; all communication through [________________________________]
• ☐ Compliance with Civil Protection Order, Case No. [________________________________]
• ☐ Parent [____] shall complete: ☐ Batterer's intervention program ☐ Substance abuse treatment ☐ Anger management ☐ Other: [________________________________]
• ☐ The presumption against joint custody under D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(2) applies. The court has determined: [________________________________]

SECTION 10: DISPUTE RESOLUTION

10.1 Informal Resolution

Parents shall first attempt to resolve disagreements through direct, respectful communication.

10.2 Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division Mediation

If informal resolution fails, Parents shall submit disputes to the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the D.C. Superior Court for family mediation before filing any motion with the Court.

Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division
D.C. Superior Court
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Telephone: (202) 879-3180

Sessions are available Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and Saturdays at 10:00 AM.

Exceptions to mediation requirement:
☐ Allegations of intrafamily offense or child abuse
☐ Active Civil Protection Order between the parties
☐ Emergency situations requiring immediate court intervention

10.3 Private Mediation

If Multi-Door mediation is unsuccessful, Parents may engage a private mediator at shared expense before seeking judicial resolution.

10.4 Judicial Resolution

If mediation is unsuccessful, either Parent may file an appropriate motion with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court Operations Division.

10.5 Parenting Coordinator

☐ The Parents agree to utilize a Parenting Coordinator: [________________________________]
☐ A Parenting Coordinator is not designated at this time.

SECTION 11: DE FACTO PARENT AND THIRD-PARTY PROVISIONS

The District of Columbia has landmark de facto parent legislation at D.C. Code § 16-831.01 et seq. This section applies when a de facto parent or third party has standing in the custody matter.

☐ Not applicable. This case involves only the child(ren)'s legal parents.

☐ De facto parent involved. [________________________________] has established de facto parent status under D.C. Code § 16-831.01 by clear and convincing evidence and is deemed a parent for purposes of this Plan.

☐ Third-party custodian involved. [________________________________] is seeking or has obtained third-party custody under D.C. Code § 16-831.01 et seq.

SECTION 12: ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

12.1 Passports and International Travel

☐ Both Parents must consent to passport issuance for the child(ren).
☐ International travel requires [____] days' advance notice and written consent, plus a detailed itinerary.
☐ Each Parent shall have possession of the child(ren)'s passport during their scheduled international travel.

12.2 Social Media and Privacy

Neither Parent shall post photographs or information about the child(ren) on social media without the other Parent's consent. ☐ Agreed ☐ Not agreed ☐ Modified: [________________________________]

12.3 Introduction of New Partners

If either Parent develops a new romantic relationship, the Parent shall:
☐ Wait [____] months before introducing the new partner to the child(ren).
☐ Notify the other Parent before introduction.
☐ No restriction.

12.4 Consistency Across Households

Parents shall make reasonable efforts to maintain consistent rules, discipline, bedtimes, and homework expectations across both households.

12.5 Annual Review

Parents agree to review this Parenting Plan annually, or when circumstances materially change, and to update it as needed to serve the child(ren)'s evolving needs.

SECTION 13: GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This Parenting Plan is governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, including D.C. Code § 16-914 et seq. Exclusive jurisdiction lies in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court Operations Division, Domestic Relations Branch.

Filing Location:
Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Family Court Central Intake Center

Family Court Self-Help Center: (202) 879-0096

SECTION 14: EXECUTION

The undersigned Parents have read, understand, and voluntarily agree to abide by this Parenting Plan. Each Parent acknowledges having had the opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel.

PARENT A:

Signature: _________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

PARENT B:

Signature: _________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

District of Columbia )
) ss.

On [__/__/____], before me, [________________________________], a Notary Public in and for the District of Columbia, personally appeared [________________________________] and [________________________________], known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that they executed the same voluntarily.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature: _________________________________
Notary Public, District of Columbia
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

[SEAL]

ORDER APPROVING PARENTING PLAN

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FAMILY COURT OPERATIONS DIVISION

Case No.: [________________________________]

The Court, having reviewed the foregoing Parenting Plan and considered the sixteen (16) best-interest factors of D.C. Code § 16-914(a)(3), finds that this Parenting Plan serves the best interests of the minor child(ren) and is entered into voluntarily by both Parents.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Parenting Plan is APPROVED and INCORPORATED into the custody order in this matter.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: [__/__/____]

_________________________________
Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Family Court Operations Division

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• D.C. Code § 16-914 — Custody of children (custody types, rebuttable presumption, best interest factors, parenting plan authority): https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-914
• D.C. Code § 16-914(f) — Parenting plan provisions: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-914
• D.C. Code § 16-1001 et seq. — Intrafamily Offenses Act: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/16/chapters/10
• D.C. Code § 16-831.01 et seq. — Third-Party Custody / De Facto Parent: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-831.01
• Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division — Family Mediation: https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/multi-door-dispute-resolution-division/mediation/family-mediation
• Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court: https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/family-court-operations-division
• DC Superior Court Domestic Relations Branch: https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/family-court-operations-division/domestic-relations-branch
• DCPS School Enrollment / My School DC: https://www.myschooldc.org
• Family Court Self-Help Center: (202) 879-0096