Parenting Plan Creation
A mediation process focused on your child
Our Parenting Plan Creation process gives parents structure, preparation, and support to thoughtfully create a clear, child-centered parenting plan without letting conflict take over.
If You’re Here, You Might Be…
- at the beginning of a separation or divorce
- unsure what kind of parenting schedule will work
- feeling pressure to make decisions but wanting to be thoughtful
- worried about protecting your child from conflict
- unsure what should be included in a parenting plan
- mostly on the same page but wanting help turning your agreements into a clear plan
You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting. That’s what the process is here to help you do.
What Goes Into a Parenting Plan?
A parenting plan creates structure and shared expectations for how you will parent across two homes. It goes beyond a schedule and addresses many of the everyday decisions that come with raising your child.
Depending on your family, this may include:
- regular parenting schedules, holidays, and school breaks
- transitions between homes
- transportation and logistics
- medical care, education, activities, and other important decisions
- communication between parents
- communication between your child and each parent
- ways to support your child’s safety and emotional well-being
- other parenting concerns specific to your family
Every family is different. Mediation gives you space to work through these decisions based on your child’s needs and your family’s circumstances rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Parenting Plan Creation is not about rushing you into an agreement or deciding who is right or wrong. It gives you a neutral, structured place to consider your options and work toward a plan you can rely on moving forward.
Preparation Can Make a Difference
When separation or divorce begins, parents often feel pressure to make decisions quickly.
But starting difficult conversations before you’ve had time to think through your priorities and concerns can sometimes make the process harder.
That’s why we begin every Parenting Plan Creation case with an Individual Private Session (IPS) for each parent.
These private, one-on-one meetings give us time to understand what matters to each person, identify areas of common ground, and prepare for the conversations ahead.
By the time we meet together, we have a clearer sense of where to begin and what needs to be worked through.
Communication, Conflict, and Keeping Children Out of the Middle
Parents do not have to agree on everything to make thoughtful parenting decisions. What matters is having a way to work through disagreements without placing children in the middle.
Reduce Unnecessary Conflict
Mediation gives parents a structured place to address issues instead of relying on repeated messages or reactive conversations.
Keep Children Out of Adult Disagreements
Children benefit when they are not asked to carry messages, take sides, or become involved in disagreements between their parents. Mediation gives parents a place to work through those decisions directly.
Support Healthier Communication
Even small changes in how parents communicate can make a meaningful difference. We encourage communication that is clear, respectful, child-focused, and easier to maintain moving forward.
Parents may also receive guidance and resources to support healthier communication during and after mediation.
What You’ll Walk Away With
Depending on the agreements you reach, your parenting plan can provide:
- clear expectations for everyday parenting decisions
- structure for schedules, transitions, and responsibilities
- greater consistency for your child across two homes
- guidance to rely on when communication becomes difficult
- a foundation for handling future parenting decisions
The goal is not to create a “perfect” parenting plan. It is to create one that is thoughtful, practical, and designed around your family.
Fees & What to Expect
Mediation is billed at $150 per hour, per parent, based on the time used.
Every family is different, so the amount of time needed will vary. Some parents begin with significant areas of agreement, while others need more time to explore options and work through differences.
Beginning with an IPS allows us to understand the issues before mediation starts so that our time together can be used more intentionally.
During your free consultation, we’ll talk about your situation, answer your questions, and discuss what the mediation process may look like for your family.
- You can participate in mediation without an attorney.
- You can choose if and when to involve an attorney.
- An attorney can participate in mediation with you if you choose.
- You can consult with an attorney at any time or have them review your parenting plan before you file it.
Parenting Plan Creation focuses on parenting issues, including parenting time, decision-making, communication, transitions, and, when appropriate, related financial matters such as child support.
During your consultation, we can talk through how mediation typically works with or without attorneys and what approach may work best for your family.
Our Process Commitment
We cannot guarantee that mediation will result in a full agreement. What we can promise is a thoughtful, structured process centered on preparation, respectful communication, and your children’s needs.
Both the Individual Private Sessions and mediation are designed to give each parent an opportunity to be heard, understand the issues that need to be addressed, and thoughtfully explore possible solutions.
Even when every issue is not resolved, mediation can help clarify where you agree, where differences remain, and what may need to happen next.
Court proceedings can place personal family matters into a public forum. Mediation provides a more private setting for working through parenting decisions and gives parents an opportunity to shape those decisions together.
Ready to Learn More?
You don’t need to have all the answers before you begin. We can start by talking about where your family is now and what you need help working through.