How to Make a Parenting Plan in Maine
Maine doesn't provide a standardized parenting plan template. The court expects parents to submit a detailed, enforceable plan — but gives you almost no guidance on what to put in it. That gap between expectation and instruction is where most self-represented parents get stuck.
A vague plan that says "reasonable contact as agreed by the parents" creates exactly the kind of ambiguity that leads to enforcement headaches later. Here's what a comprehensive Maine parenting plan needs to cover.
The Core Components Every Plan Needs
Daily and Weekly Schedule
Specify which parent has the child on which days. Use specific transition times and locations — "Friday at 6:00 PM at the child's school" beats "Friday evening." If you're proposing shared primary residence, detail the exact rotation (2-2-3, alternating weeks, or 2-2-5-5).
Holiday and School Break Rotation
Build an alternating schedule for major holidays, school vacations, and summer breaks. Common approaches include odd-year/even-year rotation or splitting holidays (Thanksgiving morning with one parent, afternoon with the other). Specify exact pickup and drop-off times for each holiday.
Transportation Responsibility
Who drives for transitions? Maine has no default rule — you and your co-parent must agree. Common arrangements include the receiving parent doing pickup, meeting at a midpoint, or splitting the drive. If parents live far apart, detail who pays fuel or travel costs.
Decision-Making Authority
State whether you're requesting shared, allocated, or sole parental rights and responsibilities. If allocated, specify which categories each parent controls (education, healthcare, religious upbringing, extracurricular activities).
Communication Protocols
How will parents communicate about the child? Many plans specify a primary method (email, a co-parenting app like OurFamilyWizard, or text) and set expectations for response times on non-emergency matters (e.g., 48 hours).
How will the child communicate with the non-residential parent? Include provisions for phone calls, video chats, and the expectation that neither parent will monitor or restrict these conversations.
Right of First Refusal
If the custodial parent needs childcare for more than a set number of hours (commonly 4-6 hours), must they offer the other parent that time before hiring a babysitter? This clause prevents situations where your child spends a weekend with a sitter while you would have gladly taken them.
Dispute Resolution
What happens when you disagree? Most plans include a step-up process: direct communication first, then mediation, then a return to court as a last resort. Skipping this clause means any disagreement goes straight to a motion filing.
Common Mistakes That Create Problems Later
Being too flexible. "We'll figure it out" isn't enforceable. If your co-parent stops cooperating, a court can only enforce specific, written terms.
Forgetting school district logistics. If parents live in different school districts, the plan should designate which parent's address determines school enrollment.
Ignoring the child's developmental stage. A plan that works for a 3-year-old won't work for a teenager. Consider building in age-based modifications or a review schedule.
The Maine Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a parenting plan builder worksheet that walks through each component with Maine-specific considerations, plus a holiday rotation planner that accounts for the state's school calendar.
Get Your Free Maine — Parenting Plan Starter Checklist
Download the Maine — Parenting Plan Starter Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.