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 Rhode Island, parenting plans are essential components of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share responsibilities and time with their children. The parenting plan typically addresses decision-making authority (conservatorship), physical custody (possession), child support, and other relevant issues concerning the child's welfare. Rhode Island courts encourage parents to collaborate on a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. If the parents can agree on a plan, the court will review it and, if appropriate, incorporate it into the final court order, making it legally binding. In cases where parents cannot agree, the court may impose its own plan. Rhode Island does not have a standardized possession order (SPO) like some other states, but the court will consider various factors, including the child's needs, the parents' ability to cooperate, and each parent's involvement in the child's life, to establish a fair and workable custody arrangement.