Wyoming Parenting Plan
A Wyoming parenting plan sets out the joint, shared, or sole custody and the schedule two parents ask the court to approve; Wyoming sets custody in the decree in well defined terms under the best interest standard. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
In Wyoming, where custody keeps its plain name and can be joint, shared, or sole, a parenting plan is the written document two parents use to set out that custody and time with their children, whether they are divorcing, were never married, or need to change an existing custody order. In Wyoming, custody keeps its plain name, and the court may craft any combination of joint, shared, or sole custody. In granting a divorce, separation, or annulment, the court may make any disposition of the children that appears most expedient and in the best interests of the children, and it shall not prefer one parent as a custodian solely because of gender, nor favor or disfavor any form of custody (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). The court crafts custody to promote the best interests of the children, and it shall order custody in well defined terms to promote understanding and compliance by the parties. Wyoming does not have a statutory requirement to file a separate written parenting plan; custody is set by the court's decree or order. A written plan is still useful because it shows the court the joint, shared, or sole custody arrangement the parents are asking it to adopt, and at any time the court may require parents to attend appropriate parenting classes (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201(f)). DocDraft builds your Wyoming parenting plan from your family's schedule, with attorney review available before you submit it to the court.
Key Things to Know
- 1
In Wyoming, a parenting plan is the written document in which two parents set out custody, joint, shared, or sole, and a schedule for their children, whether they are divorcing, were never married, or are changing an existing order.
- 2
In Wyoming, custody keeps its plain name, and the court may craft any combination of joint, shared, or sole custody (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201).
- 3
A Wyoming court may make the disposition of the children that appears most expedient and in the best interests of the children (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201(a)).
- 4
A Wyoming court shall not prefer one parent as a custodian solely because of gender, nor favor or disfavor any form of custody (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201).
- 5
A Wyoming court shall order custody in well defined terms to promote understanding and compliance by the parties (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201).
- 6
Wyoming does not have a statutory requirement to file a separate written parenting plan; custody is set by the court's decree or order.
- 7
At any time a Wyoming court may require parents to attend appropriate parenting classes, including classes to lessen the effects of divorce on children (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201(f)).
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Parenting Plan in Wyoming, 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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Wyoming Requirements for Parenting Plan
Custody: Joint, Shared, or Sole
In Wyoming, custody keeps its plain name, and the court may craft any combination of joint, shared, or sole custody (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). Joint or shared custody divides decision-making and time between the parents, while sole custody places these with one parent.
Best Interests Standard
A Wyoming court may make the disposition of the children that appears most expedient and in the best interests of the children (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201(a)). Custody is crafted to promote the best interests of the children.
No Gender or Form Preference
A Wyoming court shall not prefer one parent as a custodian solely because of gender, and it shall not favor or disfavor any form of custody (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). The court decides by the best interests of the children rather than a starting preference.
Custody in Well Defined Terms
A Wyoming court shall order custody in well defined terms to promote understanding and compliance by the parties (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). A clear, specific parenting plan helps the court state custody in well defined terms.
No Mandatory Written Plan
Wyoming does not require a separate written parenting plan by statute; custody is set by the court's decree or order (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). A clear written plan still shows the court the joint, shared, or sole custody arrangement the parents are asking it to adopt.
Decision-Making and Schedule
Your Wyoming parenting plan should state whether custody for major decisions about the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing is joint, shared, or sole, and it should set the schedule: the weekday and weekend routine, holidays, school breaks, and summer, plus exchanges and transportation.
Parenting Classes Discretionary
At any time a Wyoming court may require parents to attend appropriate parenting classes, including classes to lessen the effects of divorce on children (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201(f)). This is discretionary at the statewide level, and some judicial districts require a class by local rule.
Court Approval and Self-Help Forms
A Wyoming parenting plan takes effect only when the court approves it in the decree under the best interests of the children (Wyoming Statutes Section 20-2-201). The Wyoming Judicial Branch also provides statewide self-help forms for divorce cases with minor children, filed in District Court.