Kansas Parenting Plan: Requirements, Time Guidelines, and Filing Rules

Every Kansas divorce involving minor children requires a parenting plan filed with the court. The plan must address custody, a residential schedule, decision-making authority, and how parents will handle disputes. Kansas courts evaluate everything through the best interests of the child standard — and judges reject vague or incomplete plans.

What the Parenting Plan Must Include

Under Kansas law, a parenting plan submitted to the court must specify:

• Legal custody — joint or sole. Joint legal custody (shared decision-making on education, healthcare, and religious upbringing) is the default unless one parent demonstrates it would harm the child.
• Residential custody — where the child lives during the school year, weekends, and holidays.
• A detailed parenting time schedule — specific days, times, pickup/drop-off locations, and transitions. The more detailed, the fewer future disputes.
• Holiday and vacation rotation — which parent gets the child for Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer.
• Communication provisions — phone calls, video calls, and text communication between the child and the non-residential parent.
• Dispute resolution method — mediation, arbitration, or court intervention for future disagreements.
• Relocation provisions — what happens if either parent wants to move more than 90 miles from the current residence.

Kansas Parenting Time Guidelines

The Kansas Supreme Court issues advisory parenting time guidelines that most district courts follow as a baseline. These guidelines establish minimum recommended parenting time for the non-residential parent:

• Infants and toddlers (0–2): Shorter, more frequent visits to maintain bonding without extended overnight separation
• Preschool (3–5): Alternating weekends (Friday evening to Sunday evening) plus one midweek visit
• School-age (6–12): Alternating weekends, midweek overnights, alternating holidays, and extended summer time (typically 2–4 weeks)
• Teenagers (13–17): Similar to school-age but with flexibility for the teen's activities and preferences

These are guidelines, not mandates. Parents can agree to any schedule that serves the child's interests, and judges can deviate from the guidelines based on the specific facts of the case. Common alternative schedules include 50/50 arrangements (week-on/week-off or 2-2-3 rotations) when both parents live in the same school district.

The Mandatory Parenting Class

Most Kansas judicial districts require both parents to complete a court-approved parent education class before the final hearing. The class covers the impact of divorce on children, co-parenting communication, and conflict reduction strategies.

• Cost: $20–$60 depending on the provider and county
• Duration: typically 4–6 hours (some counties allow online completion)
• Timing: must be completed within 4–8 weeks of filing, depending on local rules
• Proof: you'll receive a Certificate of Completion that must be filed with the court before your final hearing

Johnson County's "Parents Forever" program is one of the most established. Check with your county's clerk of the district court for approved providers in your judicial district.

Common Mistakes

Being too vague. "Every other weekend" isn't specific enough. Courts want exact times: "Every other Friday at 6:00 PM to Sunday at 6:00 PM, with pickup and drop-off at the child's school."

Ignoring the child support calculation. Parenting time percentages directly affect child support in Kansas. The number of overnights each parent has determines the support obligation under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines.

Forgetting about decision-making. Legal custody and residential custody are separate issues. You can share decision-making (joint legal custody) while having one primary residence for the child.

The Kansas Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a parenting plan worksheet that covers every required element, plus a time-share calculator to help you understand how your proposed schedule affects child support.

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