What is a parenting plan in Connecticut?

A parenting plan is a written document in which parents set out how they will share custody and time with their children. In Connecticut it is called a parental responsibility plan. It can be used by parents who are divorcing, by parents who were never married, or by a parent asking the court to change an existing custody order. The plan describes the child's residence schedule and decision-making, and the parents ask a Connecticut court to approve it under the best interests of the child standard (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56).

What does joint custody mean in Connecticut?

Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(a), joint custody means an order awarding legal custody of the minor child to both parents, providing for joint decision-making by the parents, and providing that physical custody is shared by the parents in such a way as to assure the child of continuing contact with both parents. It combines shared decision-making with a shared residence schedule.

What standard do Connecticut courts use to decide custody?

A Connecticut court decides custody by the best interests of the child. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56, in making or modifying a custody order the court shall consider the best interests of the child and may weigh a list of statutory factors, and it aims to provide the child with the active and consistent involvement of both parents. The court is not limited to the listed factors.

Does Connecticut presume joint custody?

Only where the parents agree. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(b), there is a presumption, affecting the burden of proof, that joint custody is in the best interests of a minor child where the parents have agreed to an award of joint custody or so agree in open court. When the parents do not agree, a Connecticut court decides custody case by case under the best interests standard.

Is a parenting plan required in Connecticut?

Yes, in a dispute. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d), in any Superior Court proceeding involving a dispute between the parents over the custody, care, education, and upbringing of a child, the parents shall file a proposed parental responsibility plan, in the time and form provided by the rules of court. It is Connecticut's version of a written parenting plan, and filing it is mandatory in a contested case.

What must a Connecticut parental responsibility plan include?

Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d), a proposed parental responsibility plan must include a schedule of the child's physical residence during the year; provisions allocating decision-making authority for the child's health, education, and religious upbringing; provisions for resolving future disputes, including where appropriate a mental health professional; provisions for dealing with a parent's failure to honor the plan; provisions for the child's changing needs; and provisions for minimizing the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict.

Where is a Connecticut parenting plan filed?

A Connecticut parental responsibility plan is filed with the Superior Court in the family matter, at the time and in the form provided by the rules of court (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)). The Connecticut Judicial Branch publishes court forms for family matters. The plan becomes binding only when the court approves it and enters a custody order in the child's best interests.

Connecticut Parenting Plan

Q: What is the difference between a parenting plan and a custody order in Connecticut?

In Connecticut the parenting plan, called a parental responsibility plan, is the written arrangement the parents propose, while a custody order is what the court issues. In a Superior Court custody dispute the parents must file a proposed parental responsibility plan (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)). When the Connecticut court finds the arrangement is in the child's best interests, it enters a custody order, which is the binding result (Section 46b-56).

A Connecticut parenting plan, called a parental responsibility plan, sets out custody, the residence schedule, and decision-making two parents ask the court to approve under the best interests of the child standard. Attorney review available.

Find out where you stand in Connecticut

What is your situation with the parenting plan?

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Introduction

A parenting plan, which Connecticut calls a parental responsibility plan, is a written document two parents use to set custody, the child's residence schedule, and decision-making, whether they are divorcing, were never married, or are changing an existing custody order. Connecticut uses the term custody, which has two parts: legal custody, the authority to make major decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives. Joint custody in Connecticut means an order awarding legal custody to both parents, providing for joint decision-making, and providing that physical custody is shared in a way that assures the child of continuing contact with both parents (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(a)). A Connecticut court decides custody by the best interests of the child and, in doing so, aims to provide the child with the active and consistent involvement of both parents (Section 46b-56). There is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the child where the parents have agreed to it (Section 46b-56a(b)). Connecticut also requires action: in any Superior Court proceeding where the parents dispute custody, care, education, and upbringing, the parents must file a proposed parental responsibility plan (Section 46b-56a(d)). DocDraft builds your Connecticut parental responsibility plan from your family's schedule, with attorney review available before you file it with the court.

Key Things to Know

1
A parenting plan is a written document in which two parents set out custody, the child's residence schedule, and decision-making; in Connecticut it is called a parental responsibility plan, used whether the parents are divorcing, were never married, or are changing an existing order.
2
Connecticut uses the term custody, which has two parts: legal custody, the authority to make major decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives.
3
Joint custody in Connecticut means an order awarding legal custody to both parents, providing for joint decision-making, and providing that physical custody is shared to assure the child of continuing contact with both parents (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(a)).
4
A Connecticut court decides custody by the best interests of the child and aims to provide the child with the active and consistent involvement of both parents (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56).
5
There is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the child where the parents have agreed to an award of joint custody or so agree in open court (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(b)).
6
In any Superior Court proceeding where the parents dispute custody, care, education, and upbringing, the parents must file a proposed parental responsibility plan (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)).
7
A Connecticut parental responsibility plan must cover the child's residence schedule, decision-making authority, dispute resolution, and minimizing the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)).

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Parenting Plan in Connecticut, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Parenting Plan guide walks through them.

Open the Parenting Plan guide

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CONNECTICUT PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN

This parental responsibility plan, Connecticut's form of a parenting plan, is made between [PARENT 1 FULL NAME] and [PARENT 2 FULL NAME], the parents of the child or children named below. The parents may be married and divorcing, or unmarried, and this plan may also be used to change an existing custody order. It sets out custody, the child's residence schedule, and decision-making the parents ask a Connecticut court to approve.

Children covered: [CHILD FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH] [ADD EACH CHILD].

Legal custody and decision-making. Legal custody will be [joint / sole to PARENT]. Decision-making authority over the children's health, education, and religious upbringing will be [joint, after good-faith discussion / allocated to PARENT]. Each parent may make routine day-to-day decisions while the children are in that parent's care and may authorize emergency medical treatment when needed.
Physical residence schedule. The children's physical residence during the year will be as follows. Weekdays: [describe the regular weekday schedule]. Weekends: [describe the alternating or fixed weekend schedule, with pick-up and drop-off times]. The schedule is intended to assure the children continuing contact with both parents.
Holidays and special days. The parents will divide holidays as follows: [Thanksgiving, winter holidays, and other holidays, alternating by year or as agreed]. Mother's Day is with [PARENT] and Father's Day with [PARENT]. Each child's birthday: [describe].
School breaks and summer. Winter and spring school breaks will be divided [describe]. Summer parenting time will be [describe, for example alternating weeks or an extended block for each parent], with written notice of vacation dates by [DATE] each year.
Exchanges and transportation. Exchanges will take place at [LOCATION] at [TIME]. [Each parent / PARENT] will provide transportation for [pick-up / drop-off]. If a parent will be more than [NUMBER] minutes late, that parent will notify the other parent as soon as possible.
Communication and changing needs. The children may contact either parent by phone or video call during reasonable hours. The parents will keep each other informed about the children's health, school, and activities, and will revisit this plan to meet the children's changing needs as they grow and mature.
Minimizing conflict and dispute resolution. The parents will minimize the children's exposure to harmful parental conflict. If a disagreement arises about this plan, the parents will first try to resolve it between themselves and, if that does not work, through mediation or with the help of a mental health professional where appropriate, before returning to court.
Relocation. A parent who intends to move the children's residence a significant distance will give the other parent written notice at least [NUMBER] days before the planned move, so the parents can discuss the change or, if needed, ask the court to review the schedule.

This parental responsibility plan is subject to court approval and is guided by the best interests of the child (Connecticut General Statutes Sections 46b-56 and 46b-56a). For the general template and other states, see the Parenting Plan hub.

Signed: _____________________ [PARENT 1] Date: __________ _____________________ [PARENT 2] Date: __________

Connecticut Requirements for Parenting Plan

Custody and Joint Custody Defined
Connecticut uses the term custody: legal custody, the authority to make major decisions about a child, and physical custody, where the child lives. Joint custody means an order awarding legal custody to both parents, providing for joint decision-making, and providing that physical custody is shared to assure the child of continuing contact with both parents (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(a)).
Best Interests and Involvement of Both Parents
A Connecticut court decides custody by the best interests of the child. In making or modifying a custody order the court shall consider the best interests of the child, may weigh a list of statutory factors, and aims to provide the child with the active and consistent involvement of both parents (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56).
Presumption of Joint Custody on Agreement
There is a presumption, affecting the burden of proof, that joint custody is in the best interests of a minor child where the parents have agreed to an award of joint custody or so agree in open court (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(b)). When the parents do not agree, the court decides custody case by case.
Mandatory Parental Responsibility Plan
In any Superior Court proceeding involving a dispute between the parents over the custody, care, education, and upbringing of a child, the parents shall file a proposed parental responsibility plan, in the time and form provided by rule of court (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)). This is Connecticut's version of a written parenting plan, and filing it is mandatory in a contested case.
Residence Schedule and Decision-Making
A Connecticut parental responsibility plan must include a schedule of the child's physical residence during the year and provisions allocating decision-making authority to one or both parents regarding the child's health, education, and religious upbringing (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)).
Dispute Resolution and Changing Needs
The plan must also provide for resolving future disputes, including where appropriate the involvement of a mental health professional; for dealing with a parent's failure to honor the plan; and for the child's changing needs as the child grows and matures (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)).
Minimizing Harmful Parental Conflict
A Connecticut parental responsibility plan must include provisions for minimizing the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)). Clear schedules, exchange arrangements, and communication rules in the plan help meet this requirement.
Filing and Court Approval
The parental responsibility plan is filed with the Superior Court in the family matter, at the time and in the form provided by the rules of court (Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56a(d)). The Connecticut Judicial Branch publishes family court forms. The plan becomes binding only when the court approves it and enters a custody order in the child's best interests.

Find out where you stand in Connecticut

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Parenting Plan Template with DocDraft

Connecticut Requirements for Parenting Plan

Custody and Joint Custody Defined

Best Interests and Involvement of Both Parents

Presumption of Joint Custody on Agreement

Mandatory Parental Responsibility Plan

Residence Schedule and Decision-Making

Dispute Resolution and Changing Needs

Minimizing Harmful Parental Conflict

Filing and Court Approval

Frequently Asked Questions