Custody Laws by State
One table for all 50 states and DC: what each state calls a parenting schedule, whether parents must complete an education course, where custody is filed, and a link to the official judiciary site.
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- Jurisdictions covered
- 51
- Require a parenting class
- 36 states
- Use the word 'custody' in the model term
- 4 states
| State | Term used for the schedule | Parenting class | Where and how to file | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAL | Standard Visitation Order | Required | File in the circuit court of the county where the child has lived for the past 6 months. | Courts site |
| AlaskaAK | Shared Physical Custody | Not required | Custody cases are filed in the superior court district where the child resides. | Courts site |
| ArizonaAZ | Model Parenting Time Plan | Required | The Arizona Supreme Court publishes model parenting-time plans by age. | Courts site |
| ArkansasAR | Standard Visitation Schedule | Not required | File in circuit court where the child has resided the last 6 months. | Courts site |
| CaliforniaCA | Parenting Plan | Not required | Use form FL-341 (Child Custody and Visitation Order Attachment) for the parenting plan. | Courts site |
| ColoradoCO | Parenting Plan | Required | Colorado uses 'parental responsibilities' rather than custody — file JDF forms in district court. | Courts site |
| ConnecticutCT | Parenting Responsibility Plan | Required | Both parents must complete a parenting education program before final orders. | Courts site |
| DelawareDE | Parenting Plan | Required | File the parenting plan in Family Court along with the petition. | Courts site |
| FloridaFL | Time-Sharing Schedule | Required | Florida requires a written parenting plan approved by the court in every case involving minor children. | Courts site |
| GeorgiaGA | Parenting Plan | Required | OCGA §19-9-1 requires a parenting plan in all cases where custody is at issue. | Courts site |
| HawaiiHI | Time-Sharing Schedule | Required | Family Court in each judicial circuit handles custody filings. | Courts site |
| IdahoID | Parenting Plan | Required | 'Focus on Kids' or an equivalent parent education class is required in most counties. | Courts site |
| IllinoisIL | Parenting Plan | Required | Illinois abolished the terms 'custody' and 'visitation' in 2016 — use 'parental responsibilities' and 'parenting time.' | Courts site |
| IndianaIN | Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines | Not required | The state publishes detailed Parenting Time Guidelines used as the default. | Courts site |
| IowaIA | Visitation Schedule | Required | Both parents must complete 'Children in the Middle' before the final decree. | Courts site |
| KansasKS | Parenting Plan | Required | Kansas presumes joint legal custody unless one parent is shown unfit. | Courts site |
| KentuckyKY | Timesharing Schedule | Required | Kentucky presumes 50/50 timesharing under KRS 403.270 as of 2018. | Courts site |
| LouisianaLA | Implementation Plan | Required | Louisiana civil law uses 'domiciliary parent' for the primary parent. | Courts site |
| MaineME | Parental Rights and Responsibilities Order | Not required | Maine avoids 'custody' — uses 'parental rights and responsibilities.' | Courts site |
| MarylandMD | Parenting Plan | Not required | Effective 2020, Maryland requires a parenting plan or a Joint Statement of Parties Concerning Decision-Making Authority and Parenting Time. | Courts site |
| MassachusettsMA | Parenting Plan | Required | The Parent Education Program is required for all divorcing parents with minor children. | Courts site |
| MichiganMI | Parenting Time Order | Not required | The Friend of the Court office investigates and makes recommendations in custody cases. | Courts site |
| MinnesotaMN | Parenting Plan | Required | Parents must complete an approved parent education class before the final decree. | Courts site |
| MississippiMS | Visitation Schedule | Not required | Mississippi chancery courts handle all custody matters. | Courts site |
| MissouriMO | Parenting Plan | Required | Missouri requires a proposed parenting plan filed with the petition (RSMo §452.310). | Courts site |
| MontanaMT | Parenting Plan | Required | Montana uses 'parenting plan' rather than custody — required in every dissolution with children. | Courts site |
| NebraskaNE | Parenting Plan | Required | The Nebraska Parenting Act requires a parenting plan approved by the court. | Courts site |
| NevadaNV | Parenting Plan | Required | Nevada presumes joint legal and joint physical custody are in the child's best interest. | Courts site |
| New HampshireNH | Parenting Plan | Required | New Hampshire replaced 'custody' with 'parental rights and responsibilities' in 2005. | Courts site |
| New JerseyNJ | Parenting Time Schedule | Required | Custody matters are heard in the Family Part of the Superior Court in each county. | Courts site |
| New MexicoNM | Parenting Plan | Required | New Mexico presumes joint custody unless there's a substantial reason otherwise. | Courts site |
| New YorkNY | Visitation Schedule | Not required | Custody cases can be filed in either Family Court or Supreme Court. | Courts site |
| North CarolinaNC | Parenting Agreement | Not required | Mediation is required in custody disputes before a contested hearing. | Courts site |
| North DakotaND | Parenting Plan | Required | 'Parental Rights and Responsibilities' replaced 'custody' in 2009. | Courts site |
| OhioOH | Shared Parenting Plan | Required | Ohio distinguishes between 'sole' custody and 'shared parenting,' each with its own plan requirements. | Courts site |
| OklahomaOK | Joint Custody Plan | Required | Joint custody requires a written plan; sole custody does not. | Courts site |
| OregonOR | Parenting Plan | Required | Oregon requires a parenting plan or the court will impose one. | Courts site |
| PennsylvaniaPA | Custody Schedule | Not required | 23 Pa.C.S. §5323 requires the court to state the reasons for its custody decision on the record. | Courts site |
| Rhode IslandRI | Parenting Plan | Required | Family Court hears all custody matters statewide. | Courts site |
| South CarolinaSC | Parenting Plan | Not required | SC Code §63-15-220 requires a parenting plan in contested cases. | Courts site |
| South DakotaSD | Shared Parenting Time Guidelines | Required | The state publishes 'Shared Parenting Time Guidelines' as the default schedule. | Courts site |
| TennesseeTN | Permanent Parenting Plan | Required | Tennessee requires a Permanent Parenting Plan filed on Form 1 in every divorce with children. | Courts site |
| TexasTX | Standard Possession Order | Not required | The Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO) is the default; parents may agree to a different schedule. | Courts site |
| UtahUT | Parent-Time Schedule | Required | Utah publishes statutory parent-time schedules by age (30-2 for kids under 5, 30-3 for 5+). | Courts site |
| VermontVT | Parental Rights and Responsibilities Order | Required | Vermont uses 'parental rights and responsibilities' — no 'custody' terminology. | Courts site |
| VirginiaVA | Visitation Schedule | Required | Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court handles initial custody; appeals go to Circuit Court. | Courts site |
| WashingtonWA | Parenting Plan | Required | Washington requires a Parenting Plan (WPF DR 01.0400) in every case with minor children. | Courts site |
| West VirginiaWV | Parenting Plan | Required | West Virginia allocates custodial time in proportion to each parent's past caretaking. | Courts site |
| WisconsinWI | Parenting Plan | Required | Wisconsin requires a parenting plan when parents cannot agree on placement. | Courts site |
| WyomingWY | Visitation Schedule | Not required | District courts handle all custody cases in Wyoming. | Courts site |
| District of ColumbiaDC | Custody Order | Not required | The DC Superior Court Family Court handles all custody proceedings. | Courts site |
Requirements change — always confirm against the official court site linked in the last column. For a state-specific walkthrough of drafting the plan itself, open the parenting plan guides, and use the custody glossary for terminology that differs from state to state.
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