Separate logins and direct notice for school, medical, dental, insurance, and activity records.

Records placed in a shared folder accessible to both parents.

Unless the provider limits attendance.

Give the other parent advance notice before attending.

Both parents shall have the right to attend all school functions, parent-teacher conferences, sporting events, performances, and extracurricular activities regardless of whose parenting time it falls on.

Both parents may attend school and extracurricular events but shall coordinate attendance in advance to avoid conflict at the event.

The parent exercising parenting time attends events and provides a written summary to the other parent.

1. Parents discuss the issue in good faith. 2. If they cannot agree, they seek input from the child's treating provider, school professional, or other neutral professional directly involved. 3. That recommendation shall be given substantial weight. 4. If no such professional exists, or if no agreement is reached within 5 days of the recommendation, the parents proceed to mediation. 5. Exception: time-sensitive issues or emergencies skip mediation.

1. If no treating provider or school professional is directly involved, parents jointly choose a neutral professional with relevant expertise. 2. If they still cannot agree within 5 days of that recommendation, they proceed to mediation. 3. Exception: time-sensitive issues or emergencies skip mediation.

1. Parents discuss the issue in good faith. 2. If the decision remains unresolved, they proceed directly to mediation. 3. Exception: time-sensitive issues or emergencies skip mediation.

Either parent may act immediately in a true emergency and notify the other parent as soon as the child is safe.

Try to call first when possible, but do not delay emergency care to get permission.

The child shall be enrolled in school based on Mom's residential address.

The child shall be enrolled in school based on Dad's residential address.

If the child is already enrolled, the current school remains the enrollment choice unless both parents agree otherwise.

If the parents live in different school zones, the child shall be enrolled based on the address in the district with the stronger school rating or academic fit, using GreatSchools unless both parents agree on a different rating source. If that comparison does not clearly resolve the question, the current school remains unless both parents agree otherwise.

The enrollment address shall be decided jointly before each school year using the major-decision process.

Mom shall handle enrollment and re-enrollment. Copies of all forms and confirmations shared with Dad.

Dad shall handle enrollment and re-enrollment. Copies of all forms and confirmations shared with Mom.

Either parent may handle enrollment provided they notify the other parent and share all paperwork.

Both parents share enrollment responsibility and must jointly review and sign enrollment documents.

Both parents shall attend the same conference or each shall request a separate conference with the school.

Either parent may attend conferences and shall share notes and report cards promptly.

Mom shall attend conferences and share all report cards, notes, and teacher feedback within a few days.

Dad shall attend conferences and share all report cards, notes, and teacher feedback within a few days.

Tutoring or outside academic support shall require agreement from both parents before beginning.

Either parent may arrange tutoring at their own expense. Cost sharing requires advance agreement.

If the school formally recommends tutoring, either parent may begin and seek cost sharing.

Both parents shall be notified of and invited to all IEP and 504 meetings. Both shall participate in decisions.

Both parents shall be notified. Attendance by both is expected but may be waived by written agreement.

The school's standard parent-notification process applies. Both parents shall be listed as contacts.

The non-violating parent must send written notice. The other parent has 10 days to cure or respond before further steps.

Written notice is required before escalation, but there is no fixed cure window.

Either parent may escalate immediately without first providing a cure notice.

The parents must attempt mediation before either parent may file a motion to enforce or modify in court.

Mediation is required before court filing except in cases involving safety, emergency, or imminent harm.

Mediation is the preferred path but either parent may file in court without attempting mediation first.

If a court finds a material violation, that parent shall pay the other parent's reasonable attorney fees and enforcement costs.

Each parent is responsible for their own attorney fees and costs regardless of the outcome.

The court shall determine attorney fees and costs based on the circumstances of the violation.

If a parent refuses or interferes with an exchange, the missed time is presumptively made up on a schedule agreed or ordered by the court.

Make-up time is available only if specifically ordered by the court after a violation finding.

Missed time is documented but not automatically made up.

Clothes and essentials go where the child goes.

Basics stocked in both homes, reduces transition friction.

Belongings returned by next scheduled exchange.

The parent must provide written notice with the person's name and relationship at least 30 days before a new partner or other adult moves in, and disclose any adults regularly living in the home.

Notice is required before the child first stays overnight in a home where the new person is living. Each parent must also disclose any adult who regularly has unsupervised access to the child.

Each parent must disclose other adults living in the home or regularly caring for the child, but no advance notice or consent is required.

Neither parent shall introduce a new romantic partner to the children until the relationship has been established for at least 6 months.

The introducing parent shall give written notice with the partner's name at least 14 days before the first meeting with the children.

Each parent determines when and how to introduce a new partner to the children.

No romantic partner may stay overnight during parenting time for the first 6 months after separation.

No romantic partner may stay overnight when the children are in the home.

Each parent makes their own decisions about overnight guests in their own home.

New partners and other third parties may not discipline the child or provide unsupervised care without written consent from both parents.

New partners and other responsible adults may supervise and transport the child but may not administer discipline.

Each parent may decide who assists with childcare and daily activities in their own home.

Family pets travel with the children between homes to maintain the bond and routine.

Pets remain at one primary home. The children may visit or have scheduled pet time during the other parent's time.

If there are multiple pets, each parent keeps specific pets and the arrangement is documented in writing.

There are no family pets or this issue does not apply.

The away parent may contact the child once daily at a mutually reasonable time.

The away parent may contact the child up to 3 times per week.

Contact is available when the child or either parent requests it.

The parent with the child ensures the child is available for contact at the agreed time.

The child or either parent may initiate contact during reasonable hours.

Contact during the other parent's time happens only when the child asks.

Calls should be between 9 AM and 8 PM and generally last no more than 15 minutes.

Contact should happen during reasonable waking hours with no fixed duration limit.

No specific time or duration restriction.

Both parents shall support the child's reasonable contact with grandparents and extended family on both sides.

Each parent may arrange extended-family contact during their own parenting time without the other parent's approval.

No standing rule for extended family contact. Each parent manages extended-family relationships independently.

Both parents shall support the child's reasonable contact with half-siblings and step-siblings.

Sibling contact happens at the discretion of the parent exercising parenting time.

No standing rule for sibling contact.

Neither parent shall post photos or videos of the children on social media without the other parent's written consent.

Either parent may post photos but shall not include the child's school name, home address, location tags, or other identifying details.

Each parent makes their own social media decisions. Neither parent may post photos that are embarrassing, exploitative, or harmful.

Neither parent shall post, comment, or share information about the other parent, the custody case, or legal proceedings on social media or public forums.

Neither parent shall post content that identifies the other parent in connection with the custody case or parenting disputes.

No standing social media restriction regarding the other parent.

Neither parent shall allow the child to create social media accounts without the other parent's written agreement on the platform, privacy settings, and monitoring.

The child may create accounts that meet platform age requirements but both parents must be notified and have access to monitor.

Each parent manages the child's screen time and account access during their own parenting time.

Both parents shall use age-appropriate car seats and follow Virginia law.

Both parents shall maintain matching car seats that meet the same safety standard.

Each parent shall follow manufacturer guidelines and current Virginia car seat laws.

The child shall be supervised at all times in an age-appropriate manner.

No adult not approved by both parents may have unsupervised access to the child.

Each parent determines appropriate supervision during their own parenting time.

Neither parent shall be under the influence of alcohol or drugs during parenting time.

No illegal substances. Moderate alcohol is permitted provided the parent is not impaired while responsible for the child.

Each parent shall follow applicable laws regarding substance use.

All firearms and weapons shall be locked, stored, and secured in compliance with Virginia law and inaccessible to the child.

No firearms shall be present in the home during parenting time.

Each parent shall follow applicable Virginia firearms storage laws.

Either parent may request a drug or alcohol test if there is a reasonable, articulable basis for concern. The requesting parent pays unless the test is positive.

Drug or alcohol testing shall occur only if ordered by the court.

No standing drug or alcohol testing provision is included in this plan.

Neither parent requires supervised visitation at this time. Both parents shall have unsupervised parenting time according to the schedule.

Visitation shall begin supervised and transition to unsupervised based on a schedule or conditions agreed by both parents or ordered by the court.

Use the rule for longer gaps, not short errands or partial-day conflicts.

Handle missed time case by case instead of using an automatic threshold.

Both parents keep a shared list of approved caregivers. Written notice is required before overnight or extended third-party care.

Each parent may choose caregivers during their own time, but overnight or longer care still requires advance notice to the other parent.

There is no standing approval or notice rule unless the care changes the other parent's time or triggers first right of refusal.

The traveling parent must get written consent before taking the child out of state.

The traveling parent must give advance written notice with itinerary details, but the trip does not require approval.

Consent is required only when the trip overlaps with or changes the other parent's scheduled parenting time.

Mom keeps the passport and birth certificate. The other parent keeps copies at all times.

Dad keeps the passport and birth certificate. The other parent keeps copies at all times.

The parent with the primary residence holds originals. The other parent keeps copies.

A neutral third party such as a lawyer holds originals. Both parents keep copies.

The holding parent releases the passport 14 days before departure. The traveling parent returns it within 3 days of return.

Release documents once the detailed itinerary and written consent are confirmed.

Each parent may apply for the child's passport independently. No release or return rule.

A move is subject to these rules if it would change the child's school district or materially affect the exchange schedule.

A move more than 50 miles from the parent's current residence triggers these rules regardless of school or schedule impact.

A move outside the current county or independent city triggers these rules.

The moving parent must give at least 60 days advance written notice before the planned move date.

The moving parent must give at least 30 days written notice or notice as soon as the move is known if that is sooner.

The moving parent must give reasonable advance written notice, including the new address and the planned move date.

The move may not proceed without the other parent's written agreement or a court order.

The parents must attempt mediation. If no agreement, the moving parent may petition the court before moving.

Only advance notice is required. The other parent may petition the court to modify the schedule but cannot block the move.

Until the parents reach a written agreement or a court rules, the existing schedule and school enrollment remain in effect.

The moving parent may relocate, but the schedule is subject to immediate mediation or court review.

The move proceeds with a temporary schedule adjustment proposed in the notice, subject to mediation or court review.

The parent who moved bears all additional transportation time and cost created by the increased distance.

Additional transportation costs are split in proportion to each parent's gross income.

Both parents share additional transportation costs equally regardless of who moved.

If the parents cannot agree on transportation cost allocation, the issue is reserved for mediation or court.

During deployment or extended absence exceeding 30 days, the absent parent may delegate parenting time to a grandparent or close family member, subject to the other parent's right of first refusal.

During deployment or extended absence, the other parent has primary custody. The absent parent receives reasonable make-up time upon return.

The parents shall follow Virginia Code provisions for military family custody and visitation (§ 20-124.8).

Neither parent is subject to military deployment or foreseeable extended absence.

Missed parenting time is presumptively made up within 14 days. Both parents should cooperate to find a workable make-up schedule.

The parent who missed time may request make-up time, but the other parent is not obligated to provide it.

Missed time is not made up unless both parents agree in writing.

Make-up time must be requested in writing within 3 days of the missed time.

Make-up time must be requested before the next regularly scheduled exchange.

Make-up time should be requested promptly after the missed time.

Make-up time follows the same rule whether missed due to illness, work, or a voluntary choice.

Illness and true emergencies get priority for make-up. Voluntary misses get make-up only if the other parent agrees.

Make-up time is available only when time was missed due to the child's or parent's illness or a documented emergency.

The parent whose scheduled time includes the closure day is responsible for coverage.

The on-duty parent covers the closure day but may invoke the first right of refusal rule if they cannot personally care for the child.

If both parents need to work during the closure, coverage is shared equally or each parent covers half the day.

The other parent must be offered the time before third-party care is used, following the first-right-of-refusal rules.

The on-duty parent may arrange care without offering the time to the other parent.

If the on-duty parent cannot cover the closure, the other parent takes the child for that day.

The child stays with the parent whose scheduled time it is. That parent arranges care.

The on-duty parent keeps the child and notifies the other parent of the illness the same day.

The on-duty parent handles the sick day if possible. If not, the other parent is offered the time before other arrangements.

The parent beginning their parenting time picks the child up from the other parent's home or school.

The parent ending their parenting time drops the child off at the other parent's home or school.

Both parents meet at a mutually agreed midpoint for exchanges.

When school is in session, the receiving parent picks the child up from school. The sending parent drops off at school that morning.

School is the preferred exchange point on school days but parents may agree to other arrangements.

The default exchange method applies whether or not school is in session.

Both parents share transportation time and costs equally, regardless of who moved.

If one parent moved and increased the distance, that parent bears the additional transportation time and cost.

The parent beginning their parenting time handles all transportation regardless of distance.

The child's input is welcome at any age through an age-appropriate conversation. The weight given increases as the child demonstrates maturity and consistency.

The child's preferences are not formally incorporated into the modification process. Either parent may raise the issue through mediation or court.

The parents shall review and, if necessary, adjust the schedule when a child starts kindergarten, starts middle school, starts high school, or obtains a driver's license.

The parents shall review the schedule every 2 years or when a child's school, activities, or living situation changes significantly.

The schedule is reviewed only when a parent requests it and the other parent agrees, or by mediation or court order.

All children follow the same schedule unless both parents agree in writing to a different arrangement for a specific child.

Each child may have a different schedule based on age and developmental needs, agreed in writing or ordered by the court.

The children shall not be separated. All children follow the same schedule at all times.

The dependency exemption alternates annually. Mom claims in even-numbered tax years and Dad claims in odd-numbered tax years.

The dependency exemption alternates annually. Dad claims in even-numbered tax years and Mom claims in odd-numbered tax years.

The parents alternate, but if one parent files incorrectly or no agreement is reached, the parent with more overnights may claim.

One parent claims all children every year. No alternating convention.

If a parent claims the child out of turn, that parent shall file an amended return and reimburse the other parent for any resulting costs, penalties, or lost credits.

If a dispute arises, the parents shall attempt mediation before either parent files an IRS Form 8332 revocation or other tax action.

If there is a dispute, IRS tiebreaker rules (residency, AGI) shall control.

The parent who carries the children's medical insurance also carries dental and vision if available through the same plan.

One parent carries dental and the other carries vision, or each parent covers what is available through their employer.

Each parent is responsible for dental and vision care during their own parenting time if employer coverage is not available.

Orthodontic costs are split using the same ratio as other medical expenses.

Orthodontic treatment shall not begin without both parents' written agreement on the provider, treatment plan, and cost-sharing.

Only the amount covered by insurance is shared. Any out-of-pocket orthodontic cost is borne by the requesting parent.

If the carrying parent loses employer coverage, the other parent shall add the children to their own plan within 30 days if available.

The carrying parent shall obtain COBRA or marketplace coverage. The cost is split using the default expense ratio.

The parents shall confer and agree on replacement coverage within 14 days of the loss.

The parent paying support shall maintain life insurance naming the children as beneficiaries. The other parent is encouraged but not required.

No standing life insurance requirement is included in this plan.

Both parents shall contribute to a jointly managed 529 plan. Contributions and withdrawals require both parents' written agreement.

Each parent may maintain a separate 529 plan for the children. Neither parent may withdraw from the other parent's plan.

Any existing 529 accounts remain under the control of the current account owner. No mandatory contributions.

No standing rule for 529 accounts is included in this plan.

Each parent contributes to college savings in proportion to their gross income.

College savings contributions are encouraged but not mandatory.

No mandatory or expected contribution to college savings.