District of Columbia Parenting Plan Guide

What a District of Columbia parenting plan should cover

• Legal custody: who makes decisions about school, healthcare, and religion.
• Physical custody: the residential schedule for weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
• A specific weekly or two-week custody schedule (2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/off, etc.).
• Holiday and school-break rotation, usually alternating odd/even years.
• Transportation and exchange rules — who drives, where, and at what time.
• Communication rules between parents and between each parent and the child.
• How future disputes will be handled (mediation, parenting coordinator, or court).

A simple District of Columbia parenting plan template

Copy this outline into a document, fill in the specifics, and review with an attorney before filing with the District of Columbia courts.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PARENTING PLAN

1. PARTIES
   Parent A: __________________________
   Parent B: __________________________
   Child(ren):
     Name / DOB: ______________________

2. LEGAL DECISION-MAKING
   [ ] Joint    [ ] Sole (Parent A)    [ ] Sole (Parent B)
   Notes: ____________________________

3. RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE (Custody Order)
   Regular schedule (specify pattern):
   ____________________________________
   Start date of cycle: _______________

4. HOLIDAYS & SCHOOL BREAKS
   Alternating odd/even years:
     Thanksgiving:   A odd / B even
     Winter break:   ______________
     Spring break:   ______________
     Summer:         ______________
     Birthdays:      ______________

5. EXCHANGES
   Location: __________________________
   Time: ______________________________
   Transportation responsibility: _____

6. COMMUNICATION
   Between parents: [ ] app  [ ] email  [ ] text
   Parent-child while at other home:
     Frequency: ______  Method: ______

7. DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR DISPUTES
   Step 1: Direct discussion (written)
   Step 2: Mediation
   Step 3: Court

8. SIGNATURES
   Parent A: _______________  Date: ___
   Parent B: _______________  Date: ___

Child support in District of Columbia

District of Columbia uses the Income Shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the state's schedule sets the total support the children would have received in an intact household, and each parent owes their percentage share of it. The worksheet starts from gross monthly income.

D.C. applies a shared-custody adjustment once a parent has 35% of overnights (about 128 nights).

District of Columbia parenting plan FAQ