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 Louisiana, 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, visitation (possession), child support, and other child-related matters. Louisiana law encourages parents to collaborate on a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. If parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically review it to ensure it meets legal standards and the child's needs before incorporating it into a final court order, such as a divorce decree or custody order, making it legally binding. In cases where parents cannot agree, the court will make a determination based on the child's best interests. Louisiana does not have a standard possession order (SPO) like some other states, but the state's guidelines and statutes provide a framework for determining custody arrangements. The court's primary consideration is always the best interest of the child, which includes factors such as the emotional ties between the child and each parent, the capacity of each parent to give the child love, guidance, and education, and the child's adjustment to his or her home, school, and community.