Ontario Parenting Plan Worksheet

A fill-in template to build a clear, workable parenting plan centred on your child's best interests.

Who this is for: Separating or separated parents in Ontario — married or common-law — who want to draft a parenting plan they can actually live by. What you'll get: a section-by-section template with blanks to complete, covering decision-making, the schedule, exchanges, travel, relocation, new partners, dispute resolution, and the children's activities and costs.

⚖️ This is a general guide, not legal advice. It can't account for your specific situation. Use it to get oriented, then confirm the details with a licensed Ontario lawyer.

How to use this worksheet

Fill it in together if you can, or draft your own version first and compare. Once you've agreed, a lawyer can turn it into part of your separation agreement so it's clear and enforceable.

Two principles from Ontario law shape everything below:

1. The best interests of the child is the only test. Not what's fair to the parents — what's best for the child. Ontario's family laws (and the federal Divorce Act for married couples) direct decisions to the child's needs, safety, and wellbeing.
2. The vocabulary changed. Ontario now uses decision-making responsibility (formerly "custody" — who makes major decisions) and parenting time (formerly "access" — the schedule). We use the current terms throughout.

💡 Tip for the whole plan: the best parenting plans are specific enough to prevent fights but flexible enough to survive real life. Write down the default, then add "unless the parents agree otherwise in writing."

The children this plan covers:

• Child 1: Name __________________________ Date of birth ____________
• Child 2: Name __________________________ Date of birth ____________
• Child 3: Name __________________________ Date of birth ____________

Section 1 — Decision-making responsibility

This is about major decisions, not everyday ones (the parent the child is with usually handles day-to-day choices like meals and bedtime). Decide how the big categories are handled.

For each area, circle or mark one: Jointly (both must agree) · Parent A alone · Parent B alone · A consults B, A decides (or vice versa).

Emergencies: In a genuine emergency, the parent with the child at the time may make urgent decisions and will notify the other parent as soon as possible. Agreed? ☐ Yes ☐ Modify: ______________________

💡 "Jointly" works well for cooperative parents but can stall on disagreement. If you choose it, pair it with the dispute-resolution step in Section 8 so a deadlock has a way out.

Section 2 — The parenting schedule

This is the heart of the plan. Be concrete: name the days, the times, and who does the pickup.

Regular week

Describe the normal routine (for example, week-on/week-off; or 2-2-3; or weekdays with one parent and alternating weekends).

Our regular schedule: ______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Holidays and special days

Holidays override the regular schedule. Decide each one — many parents alternate by year (e.g., Parent A in even years, Parent B in odd years) or split the day.

Summers

Summer often runs on a different rhythm. Decide:

• Summer schedule: ☐ Same as regular ☐ Alternating weeks ☐ Other: ____________
• Each parent may take an uninterrupted block of __________ days/weeks for a vacation.
• Vacation dates must be shared by (date each year): ____________

PA days, professional development days, and school closures

• On a PA day or unexpected school closure, the child is with: __________________
• Childcare on those days is arranged by: __________________

⚠️ Don't leave PA days and snow days vague. They're a frequent flashpoint precisely because nobody planned for them. Write the default now.

Section 3 — Exchanges and communication

Exchanges (handovers)

• Default exchange location: __________________________
• If a parent will be late, they'll notify the other within __________ minutes.
• Who provides transportation: __________________________

Communication between the parents

• Day-to-day coordination will happen by: ☐ Text ☐ Email ☐ Co-parenting app ☐ Other: ________
• We'll respond to non-urgent messages within __________ hours.
• We agree to keep communication businesslike and child-focused, and not to use the child as a messenger. ☐ Agreed

The child's contact with the other parent

• When the child is with one parent, the other may contact them by: __________________
• Reasonable times for calls/video: __________________

💡 Keeping parent-to-parent communication calm and logistical (not emotional) is one of the strongest predictors of a parenting plan that lasts. A shared calendar or co-parenting app removes a lot of friction.

Section 4 — Travel and passports

• A parent traveling with the child within Ontario/Canada will tell the other parent: ☐ Yes, with __________ days' notice ☐ Not required
• For travel outside Canada, the traveling parent will provide an itinerary and contact details __________ days in advance.
• A consent/travel authorization letter from the other parent will be provided when needed for international travel. ☐ Agreed
• Who holds the child's passport(s) between trips: __________________

⚠️ Many airlines and border officers expect a letter of consent when a child travels with only one parent. Agreeing the process now avoids a crisis at the airport later.

Section 5 — Relocation (moving)

Moving — even within Ontario — can significantly affect parenting time, and the law treats a planned relocation seriously.

• A parent who intends to move with the child (or move themselves) will give the other parent written notice at least __________ days in advance (60 days is the statutory minimum for a relocation — don't write in less).
• The notice will include the new address, the moving date, and a proposal for revised parenting time.
• We agree that a significant relocation requires either the other parent's consent or a court order. ☐ Agreed

⚠️ Relocation is one of the most contested issues in family law. Don't assume you can simply move with the child. A relocation generally requires at least 60 days' written notice in the prescribed form (Divorce Act s. 16.9 for divorcing spouses; Children's Law Reform Act s. 39.3 otherwise), and a court can vary or dispense with that notice — for example where there is a risk of family violence. A contested move often needs court approval based on the child's best interests. Get advice before making plans.

Section 6 — Introducing new partners

This is sensitive and personal — there's no single "right" rule, only what works for your child. Pick what fits.

• A parent will wait until a new relationship is __________ (e.g., serious / of __________ months' duration) before introducing the new partner to the child. ☐ Agreed ☐ No specific rule
• The other parent will be told before an introduction. ☐ Yes ☐ No
• New partners will not be referred to as "mom/dad," and won't be used to relay messages between parents. ☐ Agreed

💡 Keep this child-centred, not about controlling each other's lives. The goal is a stable, low-drama introduction on the child's timeline, not a veto over the other parent's relationships.

Section 7 — The child's activities and expenses

Activities

• The child's current activities: ______________________________________
• New activities that affect the other parent's time need: ☐ Both parents' agreement ☐ Notice only
• Each parent will get the child to scheduled activities during their parenting time. ☐ Agreed

Sharing children's expenses

Beyond base child support, certain special or extraordinary expenses (often called section 7 expenses — things like childcare, significant activities, braces, or post-secondary costs) are typically shared in proportion to each parent's income.

• Receipts for shared expenses will be sent within __________ days, and reimbursed within __________ days.

💡 Child support itself is the right of the child and is set under the Child Support Guidelines based largely on income — it isn't something parents can simply bargain away in a parenting plan. Use this section for the extras on top, and get the base support amount confirmed separately.

Section 8 — Dispute resolution

Even great plans hit disagreements. Decide in advance how you'll handle them, so a small dispute doesn't become a court battle.

When we disagree, we'll try these in order:

1. ☐ Talk directly and try to resolve it ourselves.
2. ☐ Use a neutral mediator (or a parenting coordinator) to help.
3. ☐ Only if those fail, go to court as a last resort.

• We'll review and update this plan: ☐ Every __________ year(s) ☐ When the child's needs change significantly ☐ As needed by agreement.

💡 A built-in dispute-resolution step keeps you out of court for the small stuff, which is where most co-parenting friction lives. It's one of the most valuable lines in the whole plan.

Tips for a workable plan

• Be specific on the predictable, flexible on the rest. Pin down holidays, exchanges, and PA days; allow "unless agreed otherwise in writing" for the exceptions.
• Write for your future selves. A clause should make sense to a stranger reading it in two years — name the days, times, and places.
• Keep the child out of the middle. No messages relayed through the child, no negotiating at the doorstep.
• Let it grow with the child. A plan for a toddler won't fit a teenager. Build in reviews.
• Get it into your agreement. A plan written into a signed separation agreement is clear and enforceable; a casual understanding is not.

Mini-FAQ

Do we have to call it "custody"? No — Ontario now uses decision-making responsibility and parenting time. The old words still appear informally, but the current terms are what your documents should use.

Is our parenting plan legally binding? On its own it's a roadmap. Once it's incorporated into a signed separation agreement (or a court order), it becomes enforceable.

What if we can't agree on the schedule? Try mediation before court. A neutral professional resolves most scheduling disputes far faster and cheaper than a judge.

Can we change the plan later? Yes — by agreement anytime, and a court can change parenting arrangements if there's a material change and it's in the child's best interests.

How Treadstone Law can help

A clear parenting plan is one of the kindest things you can do for your child after a separation — and we make drafting it straightforward. Treadstone Law is a digital-first Ontario firm based in Mississauga, serving families across the province virtually.

• Flat, transparent fees for parenting plans and separation agreements.
• Online intake so you can start from home, around your child's schedule.
• We'll turn your completed worksheet into a clear, enforceable agreement and advise on decision-making, support, and relocation.

Start at treadstonelaw.ca/start-file, see pricing at treadstonelaw.ca/pricing, learn more at treadstonelaw.ca/family, or call 1-844-900-1070.

This is not legal advice

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Ontario laws, tax rates, and government programs change, and how the law applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, speak with a licensed Ontario lawyer. Treadstone Law is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario — reach us at 1-844-900-1070 or start a file online.