A detailed parenting plan reduces conflict and protects your children — here's a practical section-by-section checklist for BC families under the Family Law Act.
What Is a Parenting Plan in BC?
Under BC's *Family Law Act*, a parenting plan is a written agreement between guardians that sets out how they will share parental responsibilities and parenting time after separation. Unlike a vague verbal arrangement, a well-drafted parenting plan anticipates the situations that cause conflict — holidays, school decisions, medical emergencies, travel — and provides clear answers before disputes arise.
Parenting plans can be incorporated into a separation agreement or filed with the BC Supreme Court as a consent order. Once filed as an order, the plan is enforceable — non-compliance can have legal consequences. Even if not filed, a detailed written agreement is far more useful than a handshake understanding that each parent may remember differently.
The *Family Law Act* requires that all parenting decisions — and any agreement or order about parenting — be made in the best interests of the child. A well-structured parenting plan demonstrates that both parents are focused on their children's needs, not their own conflict.
Section 1: Day-to-Day Schedule
The foundation of any parenting plan is the regular schedule — where the children live on which days, and how transitions happen. Be specific:
- Which parent has the children on which days of the week
- Where exchanges take place (school, a neutral location, the parents' homes)
- What time exchanges occur
- Whether the schedule changes during the school year vs. summer
Vague language like "flexible shared parenting" sounds cooperative but becomes a source of conflict without detail. Courts and mediators strongly recommend specificity.
Section 2: Holiday and Vacation Schedule
The regular schedule should be supplemented by a holiday schedule that addresses:
- Statutory holidays and long weekends (who gets the child on each, or do they alternate?)
- School spring break and winter break — how is each divided?
- Summer vacation — weeks with each parent, how far in advance must plans be communicated?
- Mother's Day, Father's Day, and each parent's birthday
- Each child's birthday — do they alternate, or does the child spend part with each parent?
- Religious or cultural holidays significant to either family
Where the regular schedule and the holiday schedule conflict, the holiday schedule should govern.
Section 3: Decision-Making (Parental Responsibilities)
Under the *Family Law Act*, "parental responsibilities" refers to decision-making authority — not time. Common areas to address:
- Education: school selection, tutoring, special education decisions
- Healthcare: routine medical and dental care, specialist referrals, vaccination decisions, mental health treatment
- Religion and culture: religious upbringing, cultural practices, language instruction
- Extracurricular activities: who selects activities, who pays, what happens when activities conflict with the other parent's parenting time
Decide whether decisions in each category will be made jointly (both parents must agree), by one parent (sole responsibility), or independently within each parent's parenting time. Specify what happens if joint decision-makers cannot agree — a mediation clause is highly recommended.
Section 4: Communication Between Parents
Conflict often escalates through poor communication. Address:
- Preferred method of communication (email, co-parenting app, text)
- Expected response time for routine vs. urgent matters
- That communication should be respectful and child-focused
- That neither parent will disparage the other to the children
Some families use co-parenting apps such as OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents, which maintain a timestamped record of communications — useful if enforcement becomes necessary later.
Section 5: Communication Between Child and Each Parent
When the child is with one parent, how do they communicate with the other?
- At what age and frequency can the child call or video-chat the other parent?
- Is communication child-initiated, or scheduled?
- Neither parent will monitor, interrupt, or discourage the child's communication with the other parent
Section 6: Relocation
If either parent wishes to move in a way that would affect the child's time with the other parent, BC law requires advance notice. Address:
- How much notice must be given before a proposed move (BC's *Family Law Act* requires 60 days' written notice for a relocation)
- How disputes about relocation will be addressed (mediation first, then court)
Section 7: Illness and Emergencies
- If the child becomes ill during parenting time, who is responsible for care?
- Is make-up time offered if illness significantly reduces parenting time?
- Who is notified immediately if there is a medical emergency, and by what method?
- Both parents should have access to the child's medical providers and emergency contacts
Section 8: Review and Variation
Children's needs change. Build in a process:
- The plan will be reviewed at specified intervals (e.g., every two years, or when the child transitions to a new school)
- Either party may request a review by written notice
- Changes will be made by written amendment, signed by both parents
- If agreement cannot be reached, the parties will attend mediation before court proceedings
Filing Your Parenting Plan
A parenting plan can be filed with the BC Supreme Court as a consent order, making it enforceable. If you're not yet ready for a court order, a separation agreement containing the parenting plan is still a binding contract. Andrew Liggett has helped BC families structure parenting agreements that hold up — and hold peace — for 35 years.
*This article is general information about BC family law. It is not legal advice. Contact Sea to Sky Law™ for a confidential consultation.*
No — a parenting plan can exist as a written agreement (often within a separation agreement) without being filed with the court. However, filing it as a BC Supreme Court consent order makes it enforceable, meaning a parent who fails to comply can face legal consequences. Filing is generally recommended for additional security.
If the parenting plan is a court order, non-compliance can be addressed through enforcement proceedings in BC Supreme Court or Provincial Court. If it is an agreement only, you may need to apply for a court order. Either way, documenting each breach carefully (dates, what happened) is important before taking formal steps.
Yes. A parenting plan can be changed by mutual agreement — both parents sign a written amendment. If one parent wants a change the other won't agree to, they can apply to the BC Supreme Court or Provincial Court for a variation of the order or agreement, but must show a material change in circumstances affecting the child.
Under BC's Family Law Act, all guardians share parental responsibilities (decision-making) unless an agreement or court order says otherwise. A parenting plan should specify whether decisions in areas like education, healthcare, and religion require agreement from both parents or can be made independently by the parent who has the child at the time.