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Parenting Plans in Indiana: Crafting Agreements That Work for Your Family

Parenting Plans in Indiana: Crafting Agreements That Work for Your Family

Parenting plans in Indiana are not just court forms. They are the day to day blueprint for how your child will live, move between homes, and experience life with both parents after separation or divorce. When your plan is clear and thoughtful, you reduce conflict, protect your child, and give yourself more peace of mind.

This expanded guide dives deeper into how Indiana parenting plans work, how the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines fit in, what judges actually look at, and how to turn all of that into a schedule that works in real life for your family.

What Is A Parenting Plan In Indiana

At its core, a parenting plan in Indiana is a written agreement, approved by the court, that answers this simple question in a detailed way

“How are we going to parent our child now that we live in two homes?”

It usually sits alongside your custody order and your child support order. Together, those documents tell the court and both parents

  • Who has legal custody
  • Where the child lives and when
  • How decisions are made
  • How expenses and support are handled​

A parenting plan typically covers

  • The regular weekly schedule during the school year
  • Weekends, holidays, and school breaks
  • Summer parenting time and vacations
  • How major decisions are made for school, medical care, religion, and activities
  • Transportation, exchanges, and communication rules​

In divorce, legal separation, paternity, or custody modification cases, Indiana courts generally want a written plan instead of a vague verbal understanding. If you and the other parent cannot agree, the judge will impose a plan that the court believes fits your child’s best interests.

Legal Framework: Parenting Plans, Custody Orders, And Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

To understand how to build a strong parenting plan, you first need to know the legal ground it stands on.

How “best interests of the child” really works

Every custody and parenting time decision in Indiana has to serve the “best interests of the child.” That is not just a buzz phrase, it comes from Indiana statutes and is fleshed out in a long line of cases and guidance.​

Judges do not start with what is “fair” to parents. They start with what is safest and healthiest for the child. When making decisions, courts consider factors like

  • The child’s age and developmental needs
  • The interaction and relationship of the child with each parent, siblings, and other important people
  • The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community
  • The mental and physical health of everyone involved
  • Any evidence of domestic or family violence
  • Each parent’s ability to meet daily needs and provide a stable home
  • Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
  • The child’s wishes, with more weight for older children (often around age 14 and up)​

Your parenting plan will be viewed through that lens. If part of your plan lines up poorly with those factors, the judge can modify it.

Legal custody, physical custody, and parenting time

Parenting plans also have to fit with the underlying custody structure

  • Legal custody is about who makes major decisions for the child
  • Physical custody or primary residence is about where the child mainly lives
  • Parenting time is the schedule of when each parent actually has the child​

Indiana does not automatically favor mothers or fathers. Both parents stand on equal legal footing at the beginning of a custody decision, and the court uses the best interest factors to craft an arrangement for your specific family.​

Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines as the baseline

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (IPTG) are a statewide set of rules and model schedules the courts rely on for parenting time.​

The Guidelines

  • Assume that, when safe, children benefit from frequent, meaningful contact with both parents
  • Set minimum parenting time standards, especially for the non custodial parent
  • Provide age based schedules for infants, toddlers, school age children, and teens
  • Include detailed holiday and school break calendars
  • Offer rules on communication, changes in parenting time, and problem solving​

For children 3 and older, “ordinary parenting time” under the Guidelines generally includes

  • Every other weekend from Friday evening to Sunday evening
  • One midweek evening (often 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
  • A division of major holidays and extended summer time​

Courts can deviate from those schedules if the parents agree or if the judge finds a different arrangement better for the child. Some families move to shared or 50/50 schedules like week on/week off or 2 2 3, especially when both parents live close to the child’s school and can cooperate.​

The key point The Guidelines are a starting point, not a limit. Your parenting plan can and should build on them to fit your reality, especially with the help of a parenting agreement lawyer or child custody attorney in Indianapolis.

Key Parts Of An Effective Parenting Plan

A strong parenting plan does not rely on vague statements like “we will work it out” because that is exactly how conflict starts. Indiana focused resources repeatedly urge parents to be detailed and practical.​

Here is how to deepen each core part of your plan.

Regular weekly schedule

This is the backbone of your plan. It should clearly state

  • Where the child wakes up each school day
  • Which nights are overnights in each home
  • What happens on weekends during the school year

For example, a clear clause might read in narrative form

“During the school year, the child will reside with Parent A from Monday after school until Friday after school. Parent B will exercise parenting time each alternate weekend from Friday at 6 p.m. until Sunday at 6 p.m., and on the intervening Wednesdays from after school until 8 p.m.”

A problem version sounds like “We will alternate weekends and share weekdays as convenient.” The second version looks flexible, but it is nearly impossible to enforce if the relationship turns tense.

Weekends, holidays, and school breaks

The Guidelines provide a detailed holiday and break schedule, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fall Break, Spring Break, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and more.​

You can adopt that schedule directly in your plan or tailor it. To make this work in real life, strengthen your holiday section by

  • Saying precisely which parent has which holiday in even years and which in odd years
  • Stating exact exchange times (for example, noon on Christmas Day)
  • Clarifying that holiday time overrides regular weekend time, with make up time as required by the Guidelines​

A good clause might say “In even numbered years, Parent B will have the child from 6 p.m. on December 23 until noon on December 25. In odd numbered years, Parent A will have the same period. Holiday parenting time will take precedence over the regular weekend schedule.”

Extended summer and school break parenting time should also be spelled out, including deadlines for each parent to choose their weeks.​

Decision making and legal custody

If you have joint legal custody, your plan should go beyond the simple phrase “joint legal custody” and explain how that works. Helpful detail may include:

  • A list of major decisions that require mutual agreement, such as choice of school, major medical procedures, mental health counseling, religious upbringing, and significant extracurriculars
  • A process for breaking ties if you cannot agree, like going to mediation or a parenting coordinator before seeking court intervention​

For instance

“The parents will share joint legal custody. They will consult in good faith on major decisions relating to the child’s education, non emergency medical care, mental health treatment, religious training, and selection of extracurricular activities. If they cannot reach agreement after reasonable discussion, they will attend mediation before asking the court to resolve the issue.”

A weak version often looks like “we will both decide everything together” without any backup plan. That sounds cooperative, but it can paralyze decision making in high conflict situations.

Transportation and exchanges

Exchanges are a frequent source of everyday frustration. You can reduce that by answering

  • Where exchanges occur (school, each home, or a neutral public site)
  • Who drives which leg of the trip
  • How delays or emergencies are handled​

A clear narrative example “Unless otherwise agreed, exchanges will occur at the child’s school when school is in session. The parent concluding parenting time will deliver the child to school. On non school days, exchanges will occur at Parent A’s residence at 6 p.m. A parent running more than 15 minutes late will notify the other as soon as possible.”

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines also emphasize not using children as messengers and handling exchanges calmly.​

Communication between parents and with the child

Modern parenting plans almost always need a communication section. Consider including

  • Primary means of communication between parents, such as email or a co parenting app
  • Reasonable response times for non urgent matters, for example within 24 hours
  • Rules around contacting the child when they are with the other parent, such as one phone or video call per day at an agreed time​​

You might say “Parents will use the OurFamilyWizard app (or similar) for all routine communication about the child’s schedule, school matters, and activities. Each parent will respond to messages within 24 hours whenever possible. The non residential parent may have up to one 15 minute phone or video call with the child each day during their non parenting days, at a time that does not interfere with the child’s routine.”

Technology and parenting plans

Technology can help or hurt. To make it help, you can

  • Specify that both parents will have access to online school portals and medical portals
  • Address reasonable rules about children’s social media use and each parent’s posting of the child online
  • Include expectations around sharing photos or updates during special events

The Guidelines acknowledge virtual parenting time as a way to maintain connection when parents live farther apart or when schedules are tight.​

Travel, relocation, and right of first refusal

Travel and relocation are two areas where parents often get into disputes, especially in and around Indianapolis where moves to a new suburb can drastically change commute times.

Your plan can address

  • Notice required before out of state travel or travel more than a certain distance
  • When an itinerary and contact information must be provided
  • How right of first refusal works if a parent needs childcare for a period longer than a set number of hours​

For example “If either parent intends to travel with the child more than 150 miles from the child’s primary residence, that parent will provide at least 14 days’ written notice to the other parent, including destination, travel dates, and a phone number where the child can be reached.”

If you or the other parent might relocate in the future, your plan should be consistent with Indiana’s relocation statute, which requires formal notice when a move could affect custody or parenting time.​

Dispute resolution and change process

No parenting plan can predict everything. A practical plan includes a way to handle the unexpected and to revisit the plan as life changes.

You might build in

  • A requirement to attempt mediation before filing certain types of motions
  • A commitment to review the plan every few years or at key milestones, like starting middle school or high school
  • Guidelines for temporary adjustments, such as when a parent has a short term schedule change​

These elements tell the court you are planning for long term co parenting, not just trying to “win” today.

Parenting Plans In Joint, Sole, And 50/50 Setups

Indiana parenting plans look different depending on whether you have joint or sole legal custody, how parenting time is divided, and the level of conflict between parents.​

Joint legal custody with primary residence

In many Indiana cases, parents share joint legal custody, but one parent is the primary physical custodian. A typical week might look like

  • Child lives with Parent A during the school week
  • Child spends every other weekend and a midweek evening with Parent B
  • Parents share holidays and summer under the Guidelines​

The parenting plan in this situation often focuses heavily on decision making, communication, and making sure the non residential parent still has meaningful involvement in school and activities.

Shared or 50/50 parenting time

Some families, particularly when parents live close together in communities like Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, or Noblesville, adopt shared parenting schedules. Common options are

  • Week on / week off
  • 2 2 3 schedule
  • 2 2 5 5 schedule
  • 3 4 4 3 schedule​

These plans require careful attention to

  • School logistics and transportation
  • Consistency in homework, bedtimes, and rules
  • Communication so that important information does not fall through the cracks

Judges will look closely at whether the parents can cooperate enough for a shared plan to work and whether the schedule truly supports the child’s best interests, not just parental equality.​

Sole legal custody and restricted schedules

In situations with severe conflict, ongoing domestic violence, serious substance abuse, or other safety concerns, courts may grant one parent sole legal custody and limit the other parent’s time, sometimes with supervision.​

In those cases, the parenting plan needs to address

  • Clear safety boundaries
  • Any supervision requirements
  • Steps for potential future expansion of time if the risky parent demonstrates change

Parallel parenting in high conflict cases

When parents cannot communicate without arguing, some Indiana practitioners talk about “parallel parenting” plans. These plans

  • Limit direct contact between parents
  • Use very structured schedules with minimal flexibility
  • Rely on written communication and sometimes parenting apps
  • Often minimize the number of exchanges​

The idea is to lower exposure to conflict for the child while still preserving time with both parents.

Planning Your Parenting Plan Step By Step

It is one thing to know what should be in a parenting plan. It is another thing to sit down and actually build it. A simple step by step approach can make the process less overwhelming.

Step 1 Gather calendars and information

Before talking details, collect

  • Both parents’ work schedules and commute times
  • The child’s school calendar, including breaks and teacher work days
  • The child’s existing activity schedule (sports, music, tutoring, etc.)
  • Any therapy or medical appointment schedules

Having this in front of you makes it much easier to see what is realistic.

Step 2 Study the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

Download or print the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines from the official Indiana courts website so you can see the model schedules and rules judges expect parents to follow.​

As you read

  • Highlight parts that seem to fit your family
  • Circle provisions that will clearly not work, and note why
  • Pay particular attention to the sections on your child’s age group and the holiday schedule​

Step 3 Draft your “ideal” and “fallback” schedules

With your calendars and the Guidelines in mind, sketch out two versions

  • An “ideal” schedule that you believe best fits your child and your preferences
  • A “fallback” schedule that you could live with if the ideal is not accepted

This might include specific sequences like

  • Week on / week off
  • Every other weekend plus two dinners a week
  • A 2 2 3 pattern that keeps transitions frequent but predictable

Creating both versions helps you and your parenting agreement lawyer negotiate realistically later.

Step 4 Identify likely problem areas

Look for stress points like

  • Holidays where both families want the child (Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays)
  • Times when one parent’s work schedule may conflict with parenting time
  • Travel plans, extended family events, or religious observances that matter deeply to one or both parents
  • Introductions of new romantic partners, which often spark conflict

Make a list of these issues and think about what rules would feel fair and protective of your child.

Step 5 Write narrative “clauses” in plain language

Even if you are not a lawyer, try writing out what you want in full sentences, as if you are explaining it to someone who knows nothing about your family.

For example “On Halloween, the parents will alternate having the child from after school until 8 p.m. Parent A will have this time in even numbered years and Parent B in odd numbered years. In the year when a parent does not have Halloween evening, that parent may attend the child’s school Halloween event if permitted by the school.”

Doing this forces you to think through the who, what, when, and where for each part of the plan.

Step 6 Meet with a child custody attorney in Indianapolis

Once you have a working draft, schedule a consultation with an experienced child custody attorney Indianapolis based. That lawyer can

  • Spot legal issues or gaps
  • Flag clauses that judges in Marion County or surrounding counties might reject or change
  • Suggest wording that aligns better with the Guidelines and best interest factors
  • Help you prioritize what is most important to you in negotiation

This is where your “ideal” vs. “fallback” schedules become powerful tools rather than wish lists.

Step 7 Refine, negotiate, and finalize

Your attorney can use your draft and your priorities to negotiate with the other parent’s lawyer or to present to a mediator. As you refine the plan, keep bringing the focus back to your child’s needs, not old marital disputes.

Once you have a final agreement, your lawyer will make sure it is properly filed and incorporated into a court order so it is enforceable.

Tailoring A Parenting Plan To Your Family

No two Indiana families are the same, so no two parenting plans should be identical. Customizing your plan is not about being complicated. It is about being honest about your child, your schedule, and your reality.​

Age and stage of your child

A schedule for a 3 year old in Fishers will look different from one for a 15 year old in Greenwood.

For younger children

  • The Guidelines recommend more frequent, shorter visits to build attachment, with careful attention to naps and routines.
  • Overnights may start gradually, especially if one parent has not been heavily involved before.​

For teenagers

  • Plans often allow more flexibility around jobs, activities, and social lives.
  • Some parents move toward week on/week off schedules to cut down on transitions.​

Children with special needs

If your child has significant medical, developmental, or educational needs, your plan should address

  • How therapy and appointments will be scheduled and who will transport
  • How medications and equipment will be shared and handled between homes
  • How both parents will stay in close communication with doctors, therapists, and schools​

In these cases, judges pay close attention to each parent’s ability to keep up with routines and provide consistent care.

Work patterns and distance

In central Indiana, one parent might work downtown in Indianapolis while the other works irregular shifts at a hospital in Carmel or drives a truck out of Plainfield. These realities matter.

When tailoring a plan

  • Look at commute times during rush hour, not just miles
  • Be honest about who can realistically do school drop offs and pick ups
  • Consider using school as the exchange point to cut down on driving and conflict​

Flexibility with a safety net

Flexibility is helpful for kids, but only when there is a clear default to fall back on. A customized parenting plan can

  • Give each parent the ability to trade or add days by mutual written agreement
  • Allow make up time when parenting time is missed for good reasons
  • Provide that if parents cannot agree on a change, the written schedule controls​

That way, you can be generous without losing your footing if the relationship changes.

Modifying And Enforcing Parenting Plans

Life moves. Jobs shift, people remarry, kids grow up. Parenting plans that fit a toddler may make no sense for a middle schooler. Indiana law expects this and provides paths for both modifying and enforcing plans.​

When and how parenting plans can be modified

In general, Indiana courts can modify custody or parenting time when

  • There has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last order
  • The requested change is in the child’s best interests​

What counts as a significant change? Common examples include

  • A parent moves far enough away that the current schedule is not workable
  • A major shift in work hours, like a new night shift or frequent travel
  • Ongoing interference with parenting time by the other parent
  • New safety concerns, such as substance abuse, untreated mental health issues, or domestic violence
  • A child aging into a new stage where their needs and routines are very different

Relocation as a trigger for modification

Relocation is one of the biggest reasons parenting plans change. Indiana has specific relocation laws for parents who have custody or parenting time with a court order.​

Key points

  • If your move will significantly impact the existing schedule, distance between homes, or the child’s school, you probably must give written notice and file it with the court.
  • The notice usually needs to include the new address (if known), the date of the move, the reason, and a proposed revised parenting plan.
  • Notice must be given within certain timeframes, often at least 30 to 90 days before the move or within a short period after you know about it.​
  • The other parent then has a chance to object and ask the court to modify custody or parenting time.

If the court holds a relocation hearing, the judge may

  • Approve the move and adjust parenting time
  • Deny the move with the child
  • Switch primary custody to the non relocating parent if that better serves the child

Because relocation cases are complex and highly fact specific, working with a parenting agreement lawyer or child custody attorney Indianapolis based is especially important in these situations.

Practical steps if you want to modify

If you believe your plan no longer works, start by

  • Reviewing your current order and plan so you know exactly what it says
  • Documenting the changes in circumstances, like new work schedules, school changes, or repeated problems
  • Talking with the other parent to see if you can agree on adjustments, possibly through mediation
  • Consulting with a lawyer to decide whether to file a petition to modify parenting time or custody​

Courts often look favorably on parents who try to resolve issues reasonably before asking for judicial intervention.

Enforcing a parenting plan when the other parent will not follow it

Even the most carefully drafted plan is only as good as both parents’ willingness to follow it. When a parent regularly refuses to comply, enforcement may be necessary.

Interference can look like

  • Frequently refusing to turn the child over at scheduled times
  • Regularly showing up very late without good reason
  • Unilaterally changing the schedule without agreement
  • Undermining or blocking communication and decision making

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines stress that parenting time is both a right and a responsibility, and that parents cannot simply decide on their own to deny time except in genuine emergencies.​

If you are experiencing interference

  • Keep a detailed log of missed time, late exchanges, and problematic communication.
  • Save texts, emails, and notes about incidents.
  • Talk with your attorney before withholding child support or taking matters into your own hands, because that can hurt your case.
  • Your lawyer may send a formal demand letter, request mediation, or file a motion asking the court to enforce the order or hold the other parent in contempt.​

Judges can order

  • Make up parenting time
  • Clarification of ambiguous terms
  • Modifications that reduce opportunities for interference
  • Sanctions, including attorney’s fees or other penalties in serious cases​

The goal is always to get back to a situation where your child has reliable, safe, and predictable time with both parents.

Working With A Parenting Agreement Lawyer Or Child Custody Attorney In Indianapolis

You can build a basic schedule on your own, but turning that into a comprehensive, enforceable parenting plan that fits Indiana law is where experienced help makes a real difference.

A parenting agreement lawyer or child custody attorney Indianapolis based brings

  • Deep knowledge of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and best interest factors
  • Familiarity with local judges in Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson, and surrounding counties
  • Practical experience with what language works well and what tends to create problems​

An experienced attorney can help you

  • Evaluate your situation in light of the best interests standard
  • Develop realistic schedules that work with commutes, school, and activities
  • Use checklists and evidence based guidance to make sure you do not miss important issues in your plan​
  • Prepare for mediation or litigation if agreement is not possible

There are some situations where trying to handle a parenting plan alone is especially risky, such as

  • High conflict co parenting or domestic violence
  • Substance abuse or serious mental health concerns affecting a parent
  • Planned relocations within or outside Indiana
  • Complex work patterns or self employment income that affect both time and support
  • Prior involvement of a guardian ad litem or custody evaluator​

In each of these, the details of your parenting plan can shape not only your schedule, but also how the court views your judgment and your focus on your child.

Next Steps If You Need Help

If you are reading this because you are in the middle of a separation, divorce, or custody dispute in Indiana, you are juggling a lot. You are worried about your child, your future, and whether the court will really understand your family.

The good news is that Indiana provides clear frameworks in the Parenting Time Guidelines and custody statutes. You are not starting from scratch. And you do not have to figure it all out alone.

It can help to

  • Spend time with the official Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines so you understand what judges expect.​
  • Review practical Indiana focused resources on parenting schedules and best interests factors to see how those rules play out in real life.​
  • Talk with an experienced parenting agreement lawyer or child custody attorney in Indianapolis before you sign anything or appear in court.

Ciyou & Associates, P.C. helps parents across Indianapolis and throughout Indiana understand their options, build detailed parenting plans, and navigate modifications or enforcement when life changes. To discuss your situation and your goals for your children, you can contact Ciyou & Associates, P.C. at (317) 210-2000.

Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney client relationship. Indiana law changes over time, and how the law applies to any case depends on specific facts. You should speak directly with a licensed Indiana family law attorney before making decisions about custody, parenting plans, relocation, or court filings in your own case.

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