CPD 343 – Making Parenting Plans: Helping Lawyers to Facilitate Resolution of Parenting Disputes

Recorded 2022-11-16
Qualifies for 1.0 CPD hour.

The Divorce Act amendments (Bill C-78) and Saskatchewan Children’s Law Act 2020, reforms that came into effect in March 2021, include provisions to encourage parents to make parenting plans (or agreements) that govern parenting time, parental decision-making and other issues related to children. These plans may include aspirational statements about the parents’ expectations for themselves and their children. These plans, or parts of them, may be incorporated into court orders. Parenting plans are generally expected to evolve as children grow older and the circumstances of the children and their parents change, giving rise to questions about how much detail to include in a parenting plan, or the portion included in a court order.

This program will survey the child development literature, legal principles, and practical considerations that lawyers need to consider in making parenting plans, including issues related to scheduling and parental decision-making, as well as offering advice about negotiating plans in higher conflict cases. It will include reference to the Parenting Plan Guide and Template prepared by the Ontario Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC-O) and materials prepared the Department of Justice that can assist lawyers, judges and parents in making parent plans, as well providing templates for terms that may be included.