Definitions

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Custody Types

Custody A legal term regarding who has the right to make decisions about a child and the duty to house and care for a child.

  • JOINT CUSTODY: Joint legal custody and joint physical custody.
  • JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY: Both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for major decisions concerning the child, including, but not limited to, the education of the child, health care, and religious training. The court may designate one parent to have sole power to make certain decisions while both parents retain equal rights and responsibilities for other decisions.
  • JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY: Physical custody is shared by the parents in a way that assures the child frequent and substantial contact with each parent. Joint physical custody does not necessarily mean physical custody of equal durations of time.
  • SOLE LEGAL CUSTODY: One parent has sole rights and responsibilities to make major decisions concerning the child, including, but not limited to, the education of the child, health care, and religious training.
  • SOLE PHYSICAL CUSTODY: One parent has sole physical custody and the other parent has rights of visitation except as otherwise provided by the court.

Parenting Plan

Parenting Plan: The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form and General Time-Sharing Schedule submitted by the parents to the Court requesting the physical and legal custody type for the child(ren), information-sharing, transportation, how child(ren) will spend their time during school holidays and summer break, and many other decisions affecting how the child will be raised. Note that parents can complete a Parenting Plan Court Form together, or each parent can complete a separate Parenting Plan Court Form to be submitted to the Court.

  • Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form (Long Version): A parenting plan court form recommended for parties with attorney representation.
  • Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form (Short Version): A parenting plan court form recommended for parties without attorney representation.
  • Time-Sharing Schedule: A schedule for how children spend their time with their parents. Note that these schedules are suggested but can be adjusted to fit an individual family’s needs.
    • General Time-Sharing Schedule: A schedule for how children spend their time with their parents during the regular school year. Parents attach a General Time-Sharing Schedule to the end of the completed Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form.
    • Holiday and Summer Time-Sharing Schedule: A schedule for how children spend their time with their parents during school holidays and summer breaks. This schedule is included in the Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form.
    • General Time-Sharing Schedules for Unique Situations: General Time-Sharing Schedules for unique work situations and time-sharing schedules for reunification between parent and child after a long separation are provided on this website. Also provided is a blank calendar for parents who want to develop their own time-sharing schedule.

      

Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms