A parenting plan or custody agreement is a document that addresses how the parents of minor children will share responsibility for the custody, support, and management of the children. Some states have a standard possession order (SPO) that addresses many of these issues. Courts often require each party to a divorce or child custody proceeding to submit a proposed parenting plan.

In North Dakota, a parenting plan is a required component in cases involving child custody and visitation. The parenting plan outlines how parents will share responsibility for the care and upbringing of their minor children following a divorce or separation. North Dakota law encourages parents to work together to create a mutually agreeable parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. If parents cannot agree on a plan, each parent may be required to submit a proposed parenting plan to the court. The court will then consider these proposals and make a decision based on the child's best interests. The parenting plan typically includes provisions for residential responsibility (physical custody), decision-making responsibility (legal custody), parenting time (visitation), child support, and how future modifications will be handled. North Dakota does not use the term 'standard possession order' (SPO), which is more commonly used in Texas and some other states. Instead, North Dakota courts focus on crafting a parenting plan that is tailored to the specific needs of the child and the family's circumstances.