Indiana Parenting Plan Requirements: What Every Parent Needs to Know

An Indiana parenting plan is the legal framework that governs how separated or divorced parents will share responsibility for their minor children. Under Indiana law, every dissolution involving minor children — and many post-decree modifications — requires a parenting plan submitted to the court for approval. This guide covers what Indiana parenting plans must address and the standards Indiana courts apply when evaluating them.

Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (IPTG), adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court, set the default standard for parenting time when parties do not agree otherwise. The IPTG were updated in 2022 and apply statewide. They establish presumptive schedules for:

• Regular alternating-weekend parenting time
• Holiday and special-occasion schedules
• Summer break and school-break parenting time
• Telephone, video, and electronic communication
• Transportation and exchange logistics

Parents may deviate from the IPTG when their agreement provides for the best interests of the child, but any deviation must be explained in the parenting plan and approved by the court.

Legal Custody vs Physical Custody

Indiana distinguishes between two types of custody, and your parenting plan must address both:

Legal Custody means the right to make major decisions about the child's upbringing — including education, health care, religion, and general welfare. Indiana courts may award joint legal custody (both parents share decision-making) or sole legal custody (one parent has primary authority) under IC 31-17-2-13.

Physical Custody means where the child lives and the day-to-day care of the child. A child may live primarily with one parent (primary physical custody with parenting time for the other), or move between the parents on a roughly equal basis (shared or joint physical custody).

Required Elements of a Parenting Plan

A complete Indiana parenting plan should address every category a court will need to evaluate:

• Identification of the children — name and date of birth for each
• Legal custody designation — joint or sole, and any limits on a sole custodian
• Physical custody designation — primary residence and parenting time schedule
• Holiday schedule — how Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, and school breaks are allocated each year
• Summer break schedule — extended uninterrupted parenting time blocks
• School and extracurricular activities — which school district, who decides on enrollment, attendance at events
• Communication provisions — telephone, video, and electronic communication between visits
• Transportation and exchanges — who provides transportation and where exchanges occur
• Relocation provisions — see IC 31-17-2.2 below
• Decision-making and dispute resolution — how parents will resolve disagreements

The Best-Interests Factors

Indiana courts evaluate parenting plans against the best-interests factors set forth in Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-8:

• The age and sex of the child
• The wishes of the child's parents
• The wishes of the child, with more weight given if the child is at least 14 years old
• The interaction and interrelationship of the child with parents, siblings, and others
• The child's adjustment to home, school, and community
• The mental and physical health of all individuals involved
• Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence
• Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto custodian

A parenting plan that does not credibly address these factors is unlikely to be approved as written.

Relocation Notice

Under Indiana Code Section 31-17-2.2-3, a parent who plans to relocate must provide written notice to the other parent at least ninety (90) days before the proposed relocation date. The notice must include the intended new address, the date of the move, and a brief statement of reasons. Failure to provide notice can result in contempt proceedings and modification of custody.

Many parenting plans incorporate this requirement directly, often with additional terms — for example, geographic limits on relocation without consent, or required mediation before any move.

Modifying a Parenting Plan

Once entered, a parenting plan can be modified by the court if there is a substantial change in one or more of the IC 31-17-2-8 factors AND modification is in the best interests of the child, under IC 31-17-2-21. Common reasons for modification include relocation, change in employment or work schedule, change in the child's school or developmental needs, and concerns about a parent's conduct.

Drafting Your Indiana Parenting Plan

QuillReady offers an court-ready Indiana Parenting Plan Template covering each required element above, with bracketed fields you fill in for your situation. If you also need to file a dissolution or modify an existing custody order, see:

• Indiana Agreed Entry of Dissolution (With Children)
• Indiana Petition for Modification of Custody or Support
• Indiana Child Support Worksheet