Virginia Parenting Plan Guide

What a Virginia 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 Virginia parenting plan template

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

VIRGINIA 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 (Visitation Schedule)
   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: ___

Parent education class

Virginia requires most divorcing parents with minor children to complete a court-approved parenting education program before the final decree. Check with your local Virginia family court for approved providers — many offer online courses that can be completed in a single evening.

Child support in Virginia

Virginia 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.

Virginia's shared-custody formula applies at 90 days and uses a 1.4 multiplier, with a phase-in between 90 and 116 days.

Virginia parenting plan FAQ