When you and your New Jersey spouse separate and have children you plan to co-parent, a parenting plan acts as an important reference tool. How well you and your ex communicate with one another has a direct impact on your child's well-being. Creating a parenting plan that sets guidelines you both agree to follow may help you prevent future conflicts and maintain at least some semblance of a cordial relationship.  

Per the New Jersey Courts, a parenting plan gives you a written document to reference that answers questions about parenting time. It may also address other areas pertinent to your ongoing co-parenting relationship. What are some of the elements you may want to cover in your New Jersey parenting plan? 

Your agreed-upon parenting schedule with specifics

A solid parenting plan outlines more than just your basic parenting time terms. It should also address who is responsible for your son or daughter on holidays, school vacations, birthdays and similar special occasions. The more you outline ahead of time, the more you might be able to avoid disagreements about scheduling.  

Your agreed-upon communicative methods

Some former couples find it helpful to set guidelines about how and when the child communicates with the parent with whom he or she is not currently staying. For example, maybe you agree to allow your child to call the other parent each night or once a week, or maybe you agree to share the cost of a phone your child may use whenever he or she likes for this purpose.   

If you and your child's other parent are unable to agree on the contents of a parenting plan, the court may create one for you.