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 Colorado, parenting plans are a crucial component of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share responsibilities and time with their children. Colorado law requires that a parenting plan address issues such as decision-making responsibilities (formerly known as legal custody), parenting time (physical custody), child support, and how future modifications will be handled. The goal is to serve the best interests of the child, with an emphasis on encouraging both parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child-rearing. While Colorado does not use the term 'standard possession order' (SPO), the state does provide guidelines and schedules that can serve as a starting point for creating a parenting plan. These guidelines are designed to ensure that the child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents post-divorce or separation. If parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically approve it unless it is not in the child's best interests. If parents cannot agree, the court will establish the parenting plan. Once incorporated into a court order, the parenting plan becomes legally enforceable.