If you’re going through a divorce, custody case, or paternity action and you have minor children, Tennessee requires a parenting plan. A Parenting Plan is a detailed, legally binding document that spells out exactly how you and the other parent will raise your children going forward. This guide covers how parenting plans actually work in Tennessee, what goes into one, and where to find the state’s official forms and templates.
This guide is part of our broader guide to family law in Tennessee, and pairs closely with our guides to child custody and divorce law, since a parenting plan is the actual document that puts a custody arrangement into legal effect.
Need help creating or reviewing a parenting plan? Call us at (931)245-5060Â and we’ll walk you through it.
A parenting plan is the document Tennessee courts require in any divorce, custody, or paternity case involving minor children. Rather than just labeling one parent “custodial” and the other “non-custodial,” Tennessee uses a parenting plan to spell out two main things in detail: the residential schedule (where the children actually live and spend time) and decision-making authority (who gets to make major decisions about their upbringing). There are generally two versions: a Temporary Parenting Plan, used while a case is still pending, and a Permanent Parenting Plan, the final version that governs going forward once the case is resolved.
Every Tennessee case involving minor children, whether it’s a divorce, a standalone custody case, or a paternity action, generally requires a parenting plan to be filed with the court. Here’s how that actually plays out.
Parents can agree on the terms themselves, working out the schedule and decision-making split together, often with the help of their attorneys or a mediator.
If parents can’t agree, the court decides, applying Tennessee’s best-interests factors to determine the plan’s terms after a hearing or trial.
Even agreed-upon plans get reviewed by the court, since a judge still must confirm the plan actually serves the children’s best interests before approving it.
One parent can be designated the Primary Residential Parent, generally whichever parent has the majority of overnight time, though this label doesn’t automatically determine decision-making authority.
Both parents can be designated Joint Primary Residential Parents, but only if they agree and have equal residential time, because if the Court decides, then the Judge must pick one parent.
Tennessee requires the plan to follow a specific, state-approved format. The courts provide an official parenting plan template and program information to make sure filings are consistent and complete.
Once approved, it becomes a binding court order, enforceable just like any other part of a divorce or custody decree.
A thorough parenting plan covers a lot more than just “who gets the kids on weekends.” Common provisions include:
Detailing a regular weekly schedule.
Specific arrangements for holidays, school breaks, summer vacation, and special occasions like birthdays.
Who has input on education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities.
Who’s responsible for pickup and drop-off, and where exchanges happen.
Including a child support worksheet and any deviations.
Especially for coordinating schedules and handling day-to-day logistics.
Specifying how much notice a parent has to give before moving a significant distance.
Often requiring mediation before either parent can go back to court over a disagreement.
Other provisions also commonly show up: provisions for military deployment or extended travel, if applicable; the Tennessee bill of parental rights, which is always in a parenting plan and outlines each parent’s rights to things such as communication with the child and access to records; and any other provisions the Court may order or the parties may agree upon, such as additional communications with the children, splitting of extracurricular activity expenses, or rights of first refusal.
There’s no single “best” parenting plan that works for every family. The right plan is the one that actually fits your specific children’s needs, your specific schedules, and your specific ability to co-parent. That said, strong parenting plans tend to share a few things in common.
A schedule that works well for a teenager might not work at all for a toddler, and a good plan reflects that.
A schedule that looks great on paper but ignores work schedules, distance, or school logistics tends to fall apart quickly.
To provide children with predictable transitions.
Ambiguous language about “reasonable” parenting time or “flexible” holidays tends to create conflict later.Many Tennessee courts require mediation before a contested divorce can be set for trial. It’s not optional in most counties.
A plan with reasonable mechanisms for adjusting (within reason) tends to hold up better than a completely rigid one.
A plan that looks fair on paper but that can’t actually be used consistently isn’t really serving anyone, least of all the kids.
Tennessee’s court system provides official resources to help parents create a legally compliant parenting plan. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts’ Parenting Plan program page offers the official state parenting plan form and related guidance, which Tennessee courts expect filings to follow.
Using the correct, current version of the state’s form matters, as courts generally expect parenting plans to follow this standardized format, and using an outdated or non-conforming template can cause delays.
These serve different purposes at different points in a case.
Temporary Parenting Plans
Put in place while a case is still pending, often addressing immediate needs and generally reflecting whatever arrangement is already working (or needs to be established quickly) while the bigger picture gets sorted out.
Permanent Parenting Plans
The final version, entered once the case is fully resolved, whether through agreement or a judge’s decision, and they can look somewhat different from the temporary plan that came before them.
Here’s roughly what the process looks like, step by step.
If custody needs to be addressed immediately, a temporary plan can be put in place while the case is pending.
Using the current, official parenting plan template helps make sure your filing meets Tennessee’s requirements.
Work through the residential schedule and decision-making split, directly with the other parent or through attorneys.
Many Tennessee counties require this step for contested custody matters before a case can go to trial.
Even a fully agreed-upon plan needs court approval to become official and enforceable.
Once entered, the plan becomes part of a binding court order.
If circumstances change significantly down the road, either parent can request a modification, covered in more detail in our guide to post-divorce modification.
Parenting plans connect directly to several other family law topics.
The legal standards behind how these plans get decided →
How a parenting plan fits into a broader divorce case →
For updating an existing parenting plan later →
Often the first step before a parenting plan is possible →
A parenting plan governs your family’s day-to-day life for years, and getting the details right matters. At Dahl Family Law, we bring:
A clear understanding of what makes a parenting plan actually work in practice, not just on paper.
Careful attention to Tennessee’s official form and filing requirements.
Experience negotiating plans that are specific enough to prevent future disputes.
Support if your plan ever needs to be modified down the road.
Not necessarily. If parents can agree, they can submit a plan together for the court's approval. If they can't agree, the court will decide the terms after a hearing, applying the best-interests standard.
The case proceeds through negotiation, mediation, and, if necessary, a hearing or trial, where a judge decides the plan's terms based on the evidence presented.
Yes, if there's been a significant change in circumstances since the plan was entered, either parent can request a modification. Our guide to post-divorce modification covers this process in more detail.
Yes. Even when both parents fully agree and the divorce is uncontested, Tennessee still requires a parenting plan to be filed and approved by the court whenever minor children are involved.
Whether you’re creating a plan for the first time or need to revisit an existing one, having the right guidance helps make sure it actually works for your family.
Dahl Family Law provides representation in a wide range of family law matters, including:
This guide is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Parenting plans are fact-specific, and outcomes depend on the details of your situation. Please consult with a licensed Tennessee family law attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
