A clear, respectful agreement helps protect your relationship with your children — and reduce conflict.

This example assumes shared care and equal parental responsibility. It avoids vague or biased wording and uses specific language designed to support fair and child-focused arrangements.

Parenting Time (Custody)

• The children live with both parents in a shared care arrangement.
  The care schedule is as follows:
  • Monday & Tuesday: with Parent A
  • Wednesday & Thursday: with Parent B
  • Friday to Sunday (alternating weekends): rotates between Parent A and Parent B
• Changeovers occur at school or daycare when possible, or at an agreed neutral location.

School Holidays

• The parents will alternate school holiday periods, including Easter, mid-year, and summer breaks.
• Each parent will have the opportunity to spend up to two consecutive weeks with the children during the summer holidays.
• Public holidays and birthdays will be alternated annually, or shared by agreement.

Special Occasions

• Cultural and religious days important to either parent (e.g., Diwali, Christmas, Father’s Day, birthdays) will be shared or alternated.
• A calendar will be reviewed each year to confirm arrangements.

Communication with Children

• When not in their care, each parent may have reasonable phone/video contact with the children — up to once per day, at agreed times.

Medical, Educational, and Major Decisions

• Parental responsibility is shared equally.
  Both parents are to be consulted on major decisions, including:
  • Education and school enrolment
  • Medical and psychological treatment
  • Religious or cultural upbringing
  • Changes to residence that affect school catchment or contact

Information Sharing

• Both parents are to be provided with direct communication from schools, daycares, and medical professionals.
• Each parent agrees to inform the other of any significant matters regarding the children’s health, wellbeing, or development.

Travel

• Either parent may travel with the children within Australia during their scheduled time.
• For overseas travel, written consent from the other parent must be obtained.
• Children’s passports will be held in a neutral, agreed-upon location or alternated.

Relocation

• Both parents agree to live within a [15km radius] of the children’s current school to preserve stability in care and education.

Behaviour and Communication Expectations

• Neither parent shall speak negatively about the other in the presence of the children.
• Both parents agree to use respectful communication and prioritise the children’s emotional wellbeing.
• Disputes shall be resolved through Family Dispute Resolution before any legal escalation.