How to Make a Parenting Plan in Rhode Island
How to Make a Parenting Plan in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Family Court expects a detailed, self-executing parenting plan — but doesn't provide a template. You have to draft your own document from scratch, and vague plans that rely on "reasonable visitation at reasonable times" get rejected or generate post-judgment disputes that send you right back to court.
Required Components
A parenting plan that passes judicial review needs to address each of these areas explicitly:
Regular weekly schedule. Define the specific days and times the child spends in each household, including precise transition times and locations. "Every other weekend" isn't enough — specify Friday 6:00 PM to Sunday 6:00 PM, state who handles transportation, and name the exchange location (school, daycare, or a neutral public spot).
Holiday and school break rotations. List every major holiday — Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's, Easter, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day — and specify which parent has the child each year. Most plans alternate holidays annually. School vacation weeks need explicit treatment too, and holiday provisions must state that they override the regular weekly schedule.
Summer vacation procedures. Include a notification deadline (April 15 is common) requiring the traveling parent to provide written notice, itineraries, and flight details. Specify how summer weeks are divided and whether the regular schedule resumes on specific dates.
Transition logistics. Name who drives, where exchanges happen, and include a standard grace period for delays (15 to 30 minutes is typical). Neutral public locations work well for high-conflict situations.
Communication boundaries. Set reasonable guidelines for phone, video, and electronic contact when the child is with the other parent. Specify acceptable call windows and whether text/video calls are permitted.
Right of first refusal. This provision requires each parent to offer the other parent care before hiring a babysitter when away for a defined period (often 4+ hours). Including this clause reduces conflict about third-party caregivers.
Dispute resolution. Require mediation through the Family Court Mediation Unit or a private mediator before either parent can file adversarial motions. This saves money and keeps control in your hands rather than a judge's.
Developmental Fit
The schedule should match the child's age. Infants and toddlers (0-2 years) do better with frequent short visits rather than overnight stays. Preschoolers (3-7) benefit from a 2-2-3 rotation so they're never away from either parent more than three nights. School-age children handle alternating weeks well. Teenagers often prefer week-on/week-off to minimize transitions.
Build in review dates — a plan for a two-year-old won't work for a nine-year-old. Include a provision to revisit the schedule at major developmental milestones or through mediation.
Getting It Right
The Rhode Island Custody & Parenting Plan Guide provides a complete parenting plan framework with sample clauses tailored to Rhode Island court expectations, covering every component above plus the Pettinato factors, child support calculations, and the nisi period timeline.
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