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 Iowa, parenting plans are an essential component of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share decision-making responsibilities (conservatorship), physical care (custody), and parenting time (visitation), as well as child support obligations. Iowa law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of their children. If parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically review it to ensure it meets the child's needs and, if appropriate, incorporate it into the final court order, making it legally binding. However, if parents cannot agree, the court will intervene and establish the terms based on the child's best interests. Iowa does not have a standard possession order (SPO) like some other states, but the Iowa Code provides guidelines to assist in creating a parenting plan that addresses legal custody, physical care, visitation rights, and child support. The court's primary consideration is always the best interests of the child, and it has the discretion to order joint or sole custody arrangements depending on the circumstances.