Missouri Parenting Plan Form CCFC179: Part A Custody of the Children

Under Case Information, fill in Mother, Father, Case Number and Exhibit Number.

In "Part A of this parenting plan applies to child(ren)", fill in the blank, then list the child(ren) under Children's Information.

Under Designation of Parties, check the box that applies: Mother is the petitioner/plaintiff and Father is the respondent/defendant; Father is the petitioner/plaintiff and Mother is the respondent/defendant; or the State of Missouri is the plaintiff and Mother and Father are the defendants.

The children shall not be used as messengers.

Communication between the parents concerning the children may be by the methods you check. Check each box that is appropriate in your case: In person, Home telephone, Work telephone, Mobile telephone, Letter via U.S. Postal Service, Email, Text, Other. If you check Other, write the method on the line after it.

Neither parent shall contact the children at the other parent's residence later than the time you write on the line. If this line is left blank, there are no restrictions as to time.

Major decisions are the significant decisions about the children. Major decisions are made by the parent or parents with legal custody.

Mother and Father, Joint Legal Custody: major decisions shall be made by Mother and Father jointly. If Mother and Father disagree on a major decision they shall resolve their disagreement through the dispute resolution procedure set forth herein.

Check Mother, Sole Legal Custody to Mother, if major decisions affecting the children shall be made by Mother. Check Father, Sole Legal Custody to Father, if major decisions affecting the children shall be made by Father. Under either box, fill in the line after Mother and Father cannot share joint legal custody because.

Third Party, Sole Legal Custody to Third Party: fill in the blank before hereinafter referred to as Third Party. Third Party has sole legal and sole physical custody of the children, and major decisions affecting the children shall be made by Third Party.

Mother and Father shall have physical custody of the children as they agree. In the event they do not agree, then Mother and Father shall exchange the children as set forth in the attached residential schedules marked as Exhibit Number: fill in the blank.

Because the children need a continuing relationship with both parents, each parent shall consider reasonable changes when requested by the other parent or the children.

Common mistake: All changes are unenforceable unless in writing and signed by both parents.

If a specific location for an exchange is not stated on the schedule, then the exchange shall occur at the location you check. Check All exchanges shall occur at the children's school or child care provider; if the children are not in attendance at school or day care, then the exchange shall occur at the location you write.

Or check All exchanges shall occur at the Mother's Residence, at the Father's Residence, or at the residence of the parent whose custody period is ending. Or check All exchanges shall occur at, and fill in the blank.

Joint Physical Custody Using Mother's Address or Joint Physical Custody Using Father's Address: it is in the best interest of the children that Mother and Father have joint physical custody of the children. The address of the children for mailing and educational purposes is the same as that of Mother under the first box, and the same as that of Father under the second.

Sole Physical Custody to Mother and Visitation to Father: Mother has sole physical custody of the children and Father has visitation as set forth herein. Sole Physical Custody to Father and Visitation to Mother: Father has sole physical custody of the children and Mother has visitation as set forth herein.

Sole Physical Custody to Mother and Supervised Visitation to Father, or Sole Physical Custody to Father and Supervised Visitation to Mother: Unsupervised visitation would endanger the children's physical health or impair their emotional development because: fill in the line. Visitation will be supervised by: fill in the line.

To use other custody provisions, for example Third Party Custody or Sole physical with no visitation, check Other Custody Provisions and fill in the lines.

In the event either parent cannot exercise the scheduled time with the children, he or she should tell the other parent as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours before the start of the scheduled time with the children.

If a parent fails to notify the other, he or she shall be responsible for the reasonable costs incurred by the other parent.

RSMo. §452.377 states that absent exigent circumstances as determined by a court with jurisdiction, you as a party to this action are ordered to notify, in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and at least sixty days prior to the proposed relocation, each party to this action of any proposed relocation of the principal residence of the child, including the following information: (1) The intended new residence, including the specific address and mailing address, if known, and if not known, the city; (2) The home telephone number of the new residence, if known; (3) The date of the intended move or proposed relocation; (4) A brief statement of the specific reasons for the proposed relocation of the child; and (5) A proposal for a revised schedule of custody or visitation with the child. (6) The other party's right, if that party is a parent, to file a motion, pursuant to Section 452.377, RSMo, seeking an order to prevent the relocation and an accompanying affidavit setting forth the specific good faith factual basis for opposing the relocation within thirty days of receipt of the notice.

Your failure to obey the order of this court regarding the proposed relocation may result in further litigation to enforce such order, including contempt of court.

Reasonable costs and attorney fees may be assessed against you if you fail to give the required notice.

If the parties do not agree on the interpretation of this Parenting Plan, they shall submit the dispute to a mediator chosen by them for non-binding mediation.

In the event that the parents cannot resolve the dispute by mediation, they may submit the issue to the Court through appropriate proceedings. Fill in the additional dispute resolution procedures.

Additional provisions pertaining to the custody of the children are on the attached addendum(s) to parenting plan marked as exhibit(s): check the box, then fill in the blank.

Each exchange should be written on the Weekend and Weekday Exchange Schedule.

For example, if Father picks up the children at the default location set forth in paragraph 13 for the period of time the children will be with him on Friday, then you would enter "Father receives children at 5:00 p.m." in the box next to the correct Friday.

There should always be an even number of exchanges on this schedule, as there is always an even number of exchanges for a two-week period.