Whether it is a temporary or permanent parenting plan, the general requirements are the same: the written proposal must be approved by the Court. The differences lie in how the proposal is presented for approval. 1. Try to reach an agreement Trying to reach an agreement without going to court is often seen as the preferred method as it shows that you can co-parent effectively. You can do this in different ways. You can work through the terms together until you reach a mutually acceptable agreement, then submit it to the Court for approval.  You can hire attorneys to help you reach an agreement while simultaneously ensuring that all legal requirements are met before it is submitted for approval. You can attend mediation (with or without your own attorneys) so that you’re assisted by a neutral person who can help the two of you reach common ground.  Sometimes it can be difficult to reach an agreement without the assistance of a professional, so it can be helpful to use a mediator or attorneys. Mediation is a private and confidential process where the mediator, a neutral person, does not represent or advise either parent and does not issue orders. Instead, their goal is to help you reach an agreement with which you are  both satisfied. Mediators are often retired judges or experienced attorneys that can help ensure that your parenting plan meets the legal requirements. If you’re unable to reach an agreement, either among yourselves or with the assistance of attorneys or a mediator, you can move forward with litigation. 2. File a motion for a parenting plan In order to get your issue before the judge, your attorney will help you draft a motion that outlines your proposed parenting plan, that details why you feel your proposal is in your child’s best interests, and that presents evidence to support your position. Your attorney can do this for either a temporary or permanent parenting plan. Civility and cooperation are key Whether you’re filing a motion to establish or modify a parenting plan or if you’re seeking a permanent order, it is important that you remain civil and cooperative with the other parent, that you follow all existing orders, and that you do not engage in behavior that could be viewed as inappropriate because the judge will take all of that into consideration each time they make an order.  You should be very mindful of what you say during phone calls and at exchanges or events, and you should be careful of what you write in emails, text messages, and in social media posts–you should even be careful of what you’re tagged in on social media.  A good rule of thumb for when you’re speaking or writing to the other parent is to imagine that the judge is going to see or read everything you say, write, or do, because they probably will. It is likely that all of your communications and social media posts (even photos you didn’t know were taken) will be presented to the judge as evidence of why your parenting plan shouldn’t be ordered. Use that lens to model your behavior. Your Divorce Lawyers for Men attorney is on your side and wants to protect your rights and your child’s interests, so you need to be honest with them so that they can help you. This means being forthright about your past because anything that you’ve said or done could be used against you, and depending on what that might be, it could alter your lawyer’s strategy. For example, your attorney might want to address it proactively instead of after it is already been presented in a bad light.