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This website offers two Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms that may be used for child custody cases. The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Short Court Form may be used if parents are planning to represent themselves and file their own forms. The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Long Court Form may be used if parents are represented by an attorney.
The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms include important information including, but not limited to: custody type, how decisions about the child(ren) are made, how parents communicate with each other and with their child(ren), and how child(ren) travel between their parents’ homes.
The General Time-Sharing Schedules provide options for when parents spend time with their child(ren) during the general school year. A selected General Time-Sharing Schedule is to be attached to the end of the completed Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form and becomes part of the parenting plan that is submitted to the court.
Any forms completed and submitted by a party are subject to approval by the court assigned to the case. The forms will not have the force of law unless and until they are adopted by a court order. Additionally, once a parenting plan has been adopted by a court, any modifications must be made by another court order.
Please view our Definitions page to read more about the various custody types.
Anyone who has minor children and is involved in an initial custody action or petition for modification of custody is encouraged, but not required, to use the forms on this website, unless otherwise ordered by local court rules.
Yes, there are time-sharing schedules developed for each custody type. In other words, there are time-sharing schedules developed for parents seeking joint custody and there are time-sharing schedules developed for parents seeking sole custody.
The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms and time-sharing schedules on this website can be used by any parent or legal guardian, regardless of marital status.
Ideally, parents will work together to come to an agreement regarding the parenting plan and time-sharing schedule; however, if parents cannot agree or if there are special circumstances involved (for example, a restraining order), each parent is encouraged to submit a separate Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form.
If there is a disagreement on parenting plans, custody, or the details of the Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form, each party may submit their own separate parenting plan. The judge will hold a trial to determine the appropriate parenting plan and time-sharing schedule based on the best interests of the child(ren).
If a restraining order prohibits contact, you can still use the Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms as long as you follow all court orders and do not communicate with the other parent. Each parent will fill out their own forms and submit those forms to the judge if the restraining order prohibits contact. The judge will hold a trial, consider the evidence, and determine which custody arrangement and time-sharing schedule are in the best interest of the child(ren).
While many of the time-sharing schedules on this site are suited for children in specific age groups, this website also includes time-sharing schedules for families with children of widely different age groups.
Typically, a judge will order the same custody type for all children in a family. Similarly, there is usually only one parenting plan per family outlining how decisions involving the children are made, how parents communicate with each other and their children, and how the children travel between their parents’ households.
The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms and time-sharing schedules on this website are only intended for cases involving custody and visitation for parents or legal guardians.
After you download and complete the forms on this website, you will submit the forms to the court system. The court system through the Administrative Office of Courts and the clerk’s office in the county in which your case is filed will receive and maintain this information. Generally, family law cases are public record; however, some personal information (for example, your social security number) is kept confidential. Direct any specific questions about the confidentiality of your case to your attorney or the clerk’s office in the country in which your case is filed.
To protect your information, do not save these forms or any other private information to a public computer.
If you are represented by an attorney, your attorney will submit the forms to the court on your behalf. If you are representing yourself, download and complete the forms, print them with all the necessary attachments, and take them to the court clerk in the county in which your case is filed.
There is not a location on this website for you to submit your forms. You must submit them to the court in the county in which your case is filed.
Legal decisions involving custody and parenting include complex proceedings. These proceedings are important and life-changing for both you and your child(ren), and the decisions made in these proceedings may change your legal rights. Any decisions made as a part of these proceedings should always be made with a full and complete understanding of the consequences of your decisions. We strongly encourage you to contact an attorney before entering any legally binding agreement that may affect your custody and visitation rights.
The Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form and time-sharing schedule should be prepared and submitted to the court as soon as possible, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Once your Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Form and time-sharing schedule are submitted and a judge has entered a ruling, a new legal petition to the court must be filed before any new plans are submitted. After a new judicial ruling has been made, it is difficult to change a court order. To avoid having to file a new petition, carefully consider your plan before submitting it to the court.
You will use the same Alabama Model Parenting Plans Court Forms for modification as you would for an initial custody agreement. Check the ‘Modification’ box at the top of the form.
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