Parenting plans—also known as custody agreements or custody and visitation agreements—are proposals submitted by parents for how issues involving children should be handled following a divorce or other proceeding in family court. The court will usually request the parents submit such a document proposing how conservatorship (decision-making), custody or possession, support, and other issues will be handled. The court may adopt some or all of these proposals and include them in the court’s order (divorce decree, child support and custody order), at which point the become legally enforceable.

In many states there is a standard possession order (SPO) that serves as the default terms for such matters, and as a useful starting point for parents who wish to modify it by agreement.

In Arizona, parenting plans are required in cases involving child custody, known legally as 'legal decision-making' and 'parenting time.' These plans must outline how the parents will share or divide decision-making responsibilities for major aspects of the child's life, such as education, healthcare, and religious upbringing, as well as the schedule for when each parent will have time with the child. Arizona law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child, and the plan must be submitted to the court for approval. If the parents cannot agree on a plan, the court may order mediation or appoint a parenting coordinator to assist. The court will then establish a plan based on the child's best interests. While Arizona does not use the term 'standard possession order' (SPO), the state does provide guidelines to help parents create a parenting plan. Once approved by the court, the parenting plan becomes legally enforceable as part of the custody order or divorce decree.