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Parenting Plan Colorado

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PARENTING PLAN

☐ District Court    ☐ Juvenile Court

_______________________ County, Colorado

Court Address:

In re:

☐ The Marriage of:

☐ Parental Responsibilities concerning:

Petitioner:

and

Co-Petitioner/Respondent:

COURT USE ONLY

Attorney or Party Without Attorney (Name and Address):

Phone Number:    E-mail:

FAX Number:    Atty. Reg. #:

Case Number:    Division    Courtroom

You must submit to the Court some form of written Parenting Plan addressing all of the issues which are relevant to the facts of your case...

This is a:

☐ Full Joint Parenting Plan (we agree to everything and the plan is signed by both parties.)

☐ Partial Joint Parenting Plan (we agree to some things and the plan is signed by both parties.)

☐ Parenting Plan prepared by one party (no agreement).

The Petitioner is the child(ren)’s: ☐ Father ☐ Mother ☐ Other Party (state relationship to child(ren) )

The Co-Petitioner/Respondent is the child(ren)’s: ☐ Father ☐ Mother ☐ Other Party (state relationship to child(ren) )

The child(ren) are:

Full Name of Child Present Address Sex Date of Birth

Section A: Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (Decision-making)

1. The parties understand that day-to-day decisions ...

2. Each party will inform the other party of any changes ...

3. Both parties will provide the names, addresses, and telephone numbers ...

4. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court ...

5. For purposes of school attendance only, the child(ren)’s residence will be with the: ☐ Mother ☐ Father ☐ Other Party

Type of Major Decision-Making Joint Mother Father Other Party
Educational, if needed specify:
Medical/Dental/Mental Health, if needed specify:
Religious, if needed specify:
Extracurricular and Recreational Activities, if needed specify:
Other (please identify):

Section B: Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (Parenting Time)

1. Weekday and Weekend Schedule during the School Year

The child(ren) will be in the care of the Mother. List the days of the week and times.

The child(ren) will be in the care of the Father. List the days of the week and times.

☐ The child(ren) will be in the care of (name of Other Party).

Transportation and drop-off/pick-up arrangements will be as follows:

2. Summer Schedule

☐ The weekday and weekend schedule above will apply for all 12 calendar months with no specific changes during the summer.

or

☐ During the summer months, the child(ren) will be in the care of the Mother.

☐ During the summer months, the child(ren) will be in the care of the Father.

☐ The child(ren) will be in the care of (name of Other Party).

Transportation and drop-off/pick-up arrangements will be as follows:

3. Holidays and Special Occasions

Event Odd years Even years All Years Time & Place of exchange
☐ Spring Break
☐ Easter
☐ Mother’s Day/Weekend
☐ Memorial Day/Weekend
☐ Father’s Day/Weekend

Section C: Relocation

☐ Neither the Mother or Father have current plans to relocate with the child(ren).

The ☐ Mother ☐ Father ☐ Other Party is planning to relocate with the child(ren) to (city) (state) on and we have agreed to the following terms:

Section D: Financial Obligations for the Benefit of the Child(ren)

1. Child Support

a. Child Support Calculation

☐ Child Support shall be paid per a previously issued Administrative or Court Order in issued on in .

or

☐ The amount of child support agreed to by the parties is based upon the attached Child Support Worksheet which reflects an amount of child support of $ per month.

or

☐ The amount of child support agreed to by the parties is not based upon the attached Child Support Worksheet which reflects an amount of child support of $ per month.

b. Child Support Agreement

The ☐ Mother ☐ Father shall pay child support to the ☐ Mother ☐ Father ☐ Other Party in the sum of $ per month beginning on .

Child support payments shall be paid:

☐ To the Family Support Registry (FSR), P. O. Box 2171, Denver, CO 80201-2171.

☐ Directly to the ☐ Mother ☐ Father ☐ Other Party

Child support payments shall be paid: ☐ weekly ☐ bi-weekly ☐ twice a month ☐ monthly ☐ Other: and will be paid on the day of the ☐ week ☐ month.

2. Medical, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health Insurance and Extraordinary/Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses

☐ Mother shall provide ☐ medical ☐ dental ☐ vision ☐ mental health insurance for the child(ren). Names:

☐ Father shall provide ☐ medical ☐ dental ☐ vision ☐ mental health insurance for the child(ren). Names:

☐ shall provide ☐ medical ☐ dental ☐ vision ☐ mental health insurance for the child(ren). Names:

☐ Extraordinary Medical Expenses... divided with Mother paying %, Father paying %, and Other Party paying %.

3. Extraordinary Expenses

☐ The parties agree to the following:

4. OPTIONAL - Post-Secondary Expenses

☐ Post-secondary education expenses shall be divided with Mother paying % and Father paying % of every expense checked below.

☐ Tuition

☐ Room and Board

☐ Books

☐ Fees

☐ Travel

☐ Other:

Section E: Child Tax Exemption

Full Name of Child and deduction allocations

Full Name of Child Deduction every year Odd years Even years
☐ M ☐ F ☐ O ☐ M ☐ F ☐ O ☐ M ☐ F ☐ O
☐ M ☐ F ☐ O ☐ M ☐ F ☐ O ☐ M ☐ F ☐ O

☐ Other:

Section F: Other Terms

☐ If the parties cannot reach an agreement... ☐ mediation ☐ arbitration ☐ parenting coordinator ☐ decision-maker

☐ The parties will exchange financial information on an annual basis...

☐ Identify below any issues or agreements not already identified in this agreement.

☐ By checking this box, I am acknowledging I am filling in the blanks and not changing anything else on the form.

☐ By checking this box, I am acknowledging that I have made a change to the original content of this form.

VERIFICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Colorado that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on the day of , , at

Date

Date

IF ONLY ONE PARTY SIGNS THE PARENTING PLAN, COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE BELOW.

I certify that on a true and accurate copy of the PARENTING PLAN was served on the other party(ies) by:

☐ Hand Delivery, ☐ E-filed, ☐ Faxed to this number: , or

☐ by placing it in the United States mail, postage pre-paid, and addressed to the following (include name and address):

To:

    

    

To:

    

    

Enter text✕

What a Parenting Plan Colorado is

A Parenting Plan Colorado is a formal written agreement that describes custody, parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and routines for children when parents live separately or are divorcing in Colorado. Courts typically review parenting plans as part of dissolution, legal separation, or allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings. The plan sets schedules for regular and holiday parenting time, details communication protocols, specifies responsibilities for education and healthcare decisions, and addresses dispute resolution and modification procedures. A clear plan reduces conflicts, supports child stability, and provides a basis for court enforcement when necessary.

Why a clear Parenting Plan helps children and courts

A well-drafted Parenting Plan Colorado clarifies schedules, reduces conflict, and provides courts with enforceable terms for custody and decision-making. Clear provisions on communication, school and medical responsibility, and dispute resolution improve stability for children and lower the risk of future litigation.

Why a clear Parenting Plan helps children and courts

Who typically prepares or signs a Parenting Plan Colorado

Parents, guardians, attorneys, and court professionals commonly prepare and use a Parenting Plan Colorado to document custody and parenting time arrangements.

  • Separating or divorcing parents negotiating custody, parenting time, and decision-making allocations for minor children.
  • Mediators and family law judges reviewing proposals to issue enforceable parenting orders in filings.
  • Attorneys drafting court-ready Parenting Plan Colorado documents for contested or uncontested family law cases.

Community agencies, mediators, and parenting coordinators also use the plan when supporting families during separation, modification, or supervised transition services.

Core components to include in a Parenting Plan Colorado

A professional Parenting Plan Colorado contains schedules, decision-making rules, communication protocols, dispute processes, financial responsibilities, and provisions for modification and emergencies.

Parenting Time Schedule

Detail regular weekday and weekend time, holiday rotations, summer vacation blocks, pickup and dropoff logistics, and exact times. Specify alternate arrangements for school breaks to avoid ambiguity and reduce disputes.

Decision-Making Authority

Define legal decision categories such as education, healthcare, and religion; assign joint or sole responsibility and describe notification and escalation procedures for major decisions.

Transportation

Specify pickup and dropoff locations, who is responsible for transport, who may accompany the child, protocols for delays, and safety considerations during exchanges.

Communication

Set preferred communication methods, frequency of updates about the child, rules for introducing new partners, and reasonable boundaries for electronic contact between parents and children.

Financial Terms

Outline allocation of routine expenses, extraordinary medical or educational costs, insurance responsibilities, and reimbursement procedures, including how receipts should be submitted.

Modification Process

Include mediation or dispute-resolution steps, emergency temporary change rules, and procedures to submit proposed modifications to the court for review and approval.

Step-by-step: completing and filing a Parenting Plan Colorado

Step through completing and filing a Parenting Plan Colorado in order to ensure the court accepts and enforces the agreement.

  • 01
    Prepare Draft: Gather existing custody orders and child records.
  • 02
    Define Schedules: List regular, holiday, and vacation parenting time.
  • 03
    Add Decision Rules: Specify decision-making and emergency protocols.
  • 04
    File With Court: Submit per county family court procedures.

Setting up an online workflow for a Parenting Plan Colorado

Configure an online workflow to collect signatures, apply conditional fields, and generate a court-ready Parenting Plan Colorado PDF.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Select sequential or parallel signing order.
Authentication Email, SMS code, or KBA for signer verification.
Conditional Fields Show or hide fields based on prior answers.
Delivery Signed copies sent to parties and court.

Where to file or submit your Parenting Plan Colorado

Follow this filing flow to submit a Parenting Plan Colorado to the appropriate county family court or e-filing system.

  • Prepare Documents: Include proposed plan and cover petition.
  • Check Local Rules: Confirm county filing and signature requirements.
  • E-file or Deliver: Use county e-filing or clerk in person.
  • Serve Other Party: Follow Colorado service rules for notice.

Technical considerations for e-submission and sharing

Use platforms that support PDF output, secure storage, and capture audit trails for Parenting Plan Colorado e-submissions.

  • Formats: PDF, PDF/A, and DOCX supported.
  • Integrations: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and court e-filing.
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, and ID verification options.

Essential information fields to include

Parent Full Names: Enter exact legal names as on ID.
Child Details: Full name, DOB, primary residence.
Parenting Schedule: Weekday, weekend, holidays, vacations.
Decision Authority: Education, health, religion allocations.
Signatures: Signatures and dates in MM/DD/YYYY.
Filing County: County name and case number.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Vague schedules that omit exact pickup locations or times create recurring disputes and make enforcement by the court difficult.
  • Failing to include decision-making categories for education or medical care leaves ambiguity during emergencies and can prompt immediate court intervention.
  • Not specifying how to handle holiday rotations or summer vacations leads to calendar conflicts and increased litigation between parents.
  • Using informal or unsigned drafts instead of court-filed parenting plans prevents enforceability and complicates modifications.

Potential risks and consequences of an incorrect plan

Enforcement Risk: Court may revise terms.
Increased Litigation: Higher attorney fees.
Emergency Orders: Judge may issue temporary custody.
Child Welfare Concern: Protective orders possible.
Delayed Proceedings: Missing filings stall cases.
Financial Exposure: Unexpected support obligations.

Practical tips for an accurate, court-ready Parenting Plan Colorado

Practical tips to make completing a Parenting Plan Colorado clear, enforceable, and acceptable to the court.

Use precise times and locations
Avoid vague language like 'reasonable time.' Specify clock times, addresses for exchanges, and alternative plans for missed pickups. Clear logistics reduce disputes and are more likely to be accepted by judges as enforceable terms.
Document decision categories and notification rules
List education, healthcare, extracurricular, and religious decisions separately. Specify who makes routine versus major decisions and require prompt written notification for significant matters to reduce misunderstandings and emergency filings.
Include dispute resolution steps
Provide mediation, parenting coordination, or arbitration steps before seeking court intervention. Include timelines for requesting mediation and procedures for choosing neutral mediators to speed resolution and limit expensive litigation.
Keep records and receipts
Require parents to retain receipts for shared expenses, document communication about schedule changes, and keep signed copies of the plan. These records support enforcement, reimbursement claims, and clear fact-finding in disputes.

Real-world scenarios illustrating Parenting Plan Colorado use

Practical scenarios showing how parties and courts use Parenting Plan Colorado to define parenting arrangements and streamline enforcement.

Divorce with Mediation

A divorcing couple used mediation to draft a parenting plan that balanced work schedules and school routines.

  • Mediation reduced court hearings and legal costs.
  • The mediated Parenting Plan Colorado specified detailed holiday rotation, clear pickup times, and a conflict-resolution clause; the court adopted the plan, reducing future motions and providing predictable routines for the children.

Relocation Request

One parent sought to relocate with the child; a revised Parenting Plan Colorado addressed custody changes and interim visitation schedules.

  • Court ordered temporary adjustments during the hearing.
  • The court-approved modification included stepwise relocation provisions, specified phone and video contact, and established a timeline for permanent custody review; precise terms reduced uncertainty and facilitated enforcement if violations occurred.

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Frequently asked questions about Parenting Plan Colorado

Answers to common questions about completing, filing, e-signing, and modifying a Parenting Plan Colorado for use in Colorado family court proceedings.


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