Divorce changes a lot of things. But for parents, one thing stays constant: your children still need both of you.
A parenting plan — sometimes called an allocation of parental responsibilities (APR) in Colorado — is the legal agreement that determines how you and your co-parent will share time, make decisions, and show up for your kids after divorce. Done well, it becomes the foundation of a functional co-parenting relationship for years to come. Done poorly, it becomes a source of recurring conflict.
At Open Space Mediation, we work with Colorado parents every day to build parenting plans that are practical, specific, and built around their children’s real lives, not a template from the internet or a document drafted under pressure in a courtroom.
This guide walks you through what goes into a parenting plan, what Colorado law requires, and how mediation can help you get there.
What Is a Parenting Plan Under Colorado Law?
In Colorado, when parents with children divorce or separate, the court requires a written parenting plan. This document outlines:
- Decision-making responsibility (legal custody) — who makes major decisions about education, healthcare, religion, and extracurriculars
- Parenting time (physical custody) — where the children live and when each parent has time with them
- Holiday and vacation schedules
- Communication expectations between co-parents
- A process for resolving future disagreements
Colorado courts use the term “allocation of parental responsibilities” rather than “custody” — a shift in language that reflects the state’s focus on children’s needs rather than parents’ rights. The legal standard is the best interests of the child, which considers factors like each parent’s relationship with the child, the child’s adjustment to home and school, and each parent’s ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.
The Most Common Mistake: Being Too Vague
Many parents come to us with a parenting plan drafted by attorneys or pulled from a template that says something like: “Parents will share parenting time equally and make decisions jointly.”
That sounds reasonable. But it answers almost none of the questions that arise in real life:
- Who picks up from school on which days?
- What happens when a parent needs to travel for work?
- How are school breaks divided?
- What if one parent wants to relocate within Colorado?
- How do you handle a disagreement about a medical procedure?
Vague plans create conflict. Specific plans reduce it. The goal of a good parenting plan is to answer questions before they become arguments.
What to Include in a Colorado Parenting Plan
1. A Regular Parenting Schedule
Your regular schedule covers the typical week. Common arrangements in Colorado include:
- Week-on / week-off (7/7 schedule) — popular for school-age children when parents live near each other
- 2-2-3 rotation — children alternate spending 2 days, 2 days, and 3 days with each parent
- 5-2-2-5 — each parent has two consistent weekdays plus alternating weekends
- Primary residence with scheduled parenting time — one parent is the primary home base, the other has regular scheduled time
There is no single “right” schedule. The best one depends on your children’s ages, school location, work schedules, and how close you and your co-parent live to each other.
2. Holiday and Vacation Schedules
Holiday provisions should be explicit. Consider:
- Major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas/winter break, spring break)
- School-year breaks and teacher workdays
- Parents’ birthdays and children’s birthdays
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
- Summer vacation — length, notice requirements for travel, and any extended vacation time
Most plans specify that holiday schedules take precedence over the regular weekly schedule. It’s worth deciding this in advance rather than negotiating every year.
3. Decision-Making Responsibility
Colorado distinguishes between joint and sole decision-making:
- Joint decision-making means both parents must agree on major decisions. It works well when parents can communicate respectfully.
- Sole decision-making assigns authority to one parent, often in high-conflict situations or when one parent is unavailable.
A common middle-ground: joint decision-making for major issues (education, medical, religion), with each parent having independent authority for day-to-day decisions during their parenting time.
4. Communication Expectations
Good parenting plans address how co-parents will communicate — not just about logistics, but in a way that protects the children from adult conflict. Consider including:
- Preferred communication method (email, a co-parenting app like OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents)
- Response time expectations for non-emergency communications
- How each parent will communicate with the children during the other’s parenting time
- A prohibition on using children as messengers
5. A Dispute Resolution Process
Even the best parenting plans encounter situations not covered in the document. Including a dispute resolution process means you have a path forward that doesn’t immediately lead to court. Common approaches:
- Direct communication between parents
- Mediation (OSM offers post-divorce parenting mediation)
- Parenting coordinator — a neutral professional who helps make decisions when parents cannot agree
How Parenting Plans Are Different in Mediation vs. Litigation
In litigation, a parenting plan is often the result of negotiation between attorneys — or, in contested cases, a decision made by a judge who has spent a few hours with your case and has never met your children.
In mediation, you and your co-parent build the plan together, with guidance from a neutral mediator. The process allows you to:
- Address specifics that matter to your family
- Create a plan that reflects your children’s actual schedules and needs
- Have a structure you both understand and agreed to — which means you’re far more likely to follow it
Research consistently shows that parenting agreements reached through mediation have higher compliance rates than court-ordered arrangements. When parents build the plan themselves, they own it.
When to Revisit Your Parenting Plan
Parenting plans are living documents. Colorado courts allow parents to modify parenting arrangements when there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Common reasons to revisit a plan include:
- Children age into different schedules (a schedule that works for a 4-year-old may not work for a 14-year-old)
- A parent relocates
- Changes in work schedules
- A child’s extracurricular or academic needs shift
- Significant changes in either parent’s life circumstances
Mediation is also the right tool for modifications — it’s faster, less expensive, and keeps decision-making with the parents rather than the court.
Ready to Build a Parenting Plan That Works?
At Open Space Mediation, we help Colorado parents create parenting plans that are specific, sustainable, and centered on their children’s well-being. Our mediators are experienced in Colorado family law and understand the emotional complexity of this process.
📅 Book a free consultation to discuss your situation
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You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to go to court to get it right. That’s what mediation is built for. If you’re wondering whether mediation is a fit for your situation, schedule a consult, and we’ll do a quick reality-based screening.
Educational info only, not legal advice.
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