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 North Dakota, 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 (possession), child support, and other child-related matters. North Dakota 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 legal standards and the child's best interests before incorporating it into a final court order, such as a divorce decree or custody order, making it legally enforceable. If parents cannot agree, the court may order mediation or decide the terms based on state guidelines and the child's best interests. North Dakota does not have a standard possession order (SPO) like some states, but the state's child custody laws provide a framework for determining custody arrangements that can serve as a reference for parents creating a parenting plan.