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 Minnesota, parenting plans are a crucial component of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share decision-making responsibilities (conservatorship), as well as how they will manage custody, parenting time (visitation), child support, and other child-related matters. Minnesota law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. The plan should address both physical custody (where the child lives) and legal custody (decision-making authority), and it can include details on the child's education, health care, and religious upbringing. If the parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically review it to ensure it meets the child's best interests before incorporating it into a final court order, making it legally enforceable. If parents cannot agree, the court may establish the terms of custody and parenting time. Minnesota does not use a standard possession order (SPO) as some other states do, but the state provides guidelines to help parents create a plan that reflects the child's needs and the family's unique circumstances.