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 Kentucky, parenting plans are essential components of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share decision-making responsibilities (conservatorship), custody, parenting time (formerly known as visitation), child support, and other child-related matters. Kentucky law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. If the parents can agree on a plan, the court will review it to ensure it meets the child's needs and, if appropriate, will incorporate it into the final court order, making it legally binding. In cases where parents cannot agree, the court may order mediation or decide on the parenting arrangements based on the child's best interests. Kentucky does not use the term 'standard possession order' (SPO) as some other states do, but the state does provide guidelines to help parents and courts establish parenting schedules that are presumed to be in the best interests of the child. These guidelines can be modified by the court or through parental agreement to better fit the unique circumstances of the family.