Alaska Parenting Plan
An Alaska parenting plan sets out legal custody, physical custody, and the parenting schedule two parents ask the court to approve under the best interests of the child standard. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
A parenting plan is a written agreement that spells out how two parents will divide legal custody, physical custody, and time with their children, and it works for divorcing parents, parents who were never married, and parents changing an existing order. In Alaska, custody has two parts: legal custody, the right to make decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives and the contact the child has with each parent. Each type can be shared by both parents or held solely by one. An Alaska court may award shared custody to both parents when it determines that shared custody is in the best interests of the child, in a way that assures the child frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible, and neither parent is entitled to a preference in the award of custody (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)). The court determines custody in accordance with the best interests of the child and weighs the factors listed in the statute, and it may consider only facts that directly affect the well-being of the child (Alaska Statutes Section 25.24.150(c) and (d)). Alaska does not require a separate standalone written parenting plan by statute; custody is set by the court's order, and parents may submit their own custody and visitation agreement for the court to approve. DocDraft builds your Alaska parenting plan from your family's schedule, with attorney review available before you submit it to the court.
Key Things to Know
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A parenting plan puts in writing how two parents will handle legal custody, physical custody, and the day-to-day schedule for their children, and it fits divorcing parents, never-married parents, and parents modifying an existing order.
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In Alaska, custody has two parts: legal custody, the right to make decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives; each can be shared by both parents or sole to one parent.
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An Alaska court may award shared custody when it finds that shared custody is in the best interests of the child, assuring the child frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)).
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In Alaska, neither parent is entitled to a preference in the award of custody (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)).
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An Alaska court determines custody by the best interests of the child, weighing the statutory factors, and may consider only facts that directly affect the child's well-being (Alaska Statutes Section 25.24.150(c) and (d)).
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Alaska does not require a separate standalone written parenting plan by statute; custody is set by the court's order, and parents may submit their own custody and visitation agreement for the court to approve (Alaska Statutes Section 25.24.150(a)).
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Writing out a clear Alaska parenting plan still helps because it shows the court the legal custody, physical custody, and schedule the parents are asking it to adopt.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Parenting Plan in Alaska, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Parenting Plan guide walks through them.
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Alaska Requirements for Parenting Plan
Legal and Physical Custody
Alaska custody has two parts: legal custody, the right to make decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives and the contact the child has with each parent. Each type can be shared by both parents or held solely by one, and an Alaska court may award shared custody when it is in the best interests of the child (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)).
Best Interests of the Child Standard
An Alaska court determines custody in accordance with the best interests of the child, weighing the statutory factors, and may consider only facts that directly affect the child's well-being (Alaska Statutes Section 25.24.150(c) and (d)). The court's aim is to assure the child frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible.
No Parental Preference
In Alaska, neither parent is entitled to a preference in the award of custody (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)). The court decides legal and physical custody case by case under the best interests standard, and may award shared custody to both parents when that serves the child.
Custody Set by Court Order
Alaska does not require a separate, standalone written parenting plan by statute. Custody is set by the court's order after a best-interests determination, and parents may submit their own custody and visitation agreement for the court to approve (Alaska Statutes Section 25.24.150(a)). A clear written plan still shows the court the arrangement the parents are asking it to adopt.
Decision-Making in the Plan
Your Alaska parenting plan should state whether legal custody is shared or sole and how the parents will make major decisions about the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing. Under shared legal custody both parents take part in these decisions; sole legal custody places them with one parent.
Physical Custody and Parenting Schedule
Your plan should describe physical custody and the parenting schedule: the regular weekday and weekend routine, holidays, school breaks, and summer, plus exchanges and transportation. The schedule should assure the children frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible (Alaska Statutes Section 25.20.060(a)).
Relocation and Dispute Resolution
Include how far in advance a parent must give written notice before moving the children's residence, and how the parents will resolve future disagreements, for example by trying mediation before returning to court. These terms help the Alaska court adopt a workable custody order and reduce later conflict.
Filing and Court Approval
Custody is filed in the Superior Court and set inside the court's order. The Alaska Court System publishes self-help family-law forms for custody and visitation, but there is no single mandatory numbered statewide parenting-plan form. Any parenting-class requirement comes from a local court rule rather than a statewide statute.