How to Build a Parenting Plan in Alberta
If you’re going through a separation in Alberta and you have children, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is your parenting plan.
A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents that sets out how you’ll share time with your children, make decisions about their lives, and handle the practical realities of co-parenting after separation.
You don’t need a lawyer to draft one. But you do need to think carefully about what goes in it, because a plan that’s too vague or too rigid will create problems down the road. And if your plan ends up in front of a judge, they’ll be looking for something that clearly serves the best interests of your children.
Here’s how to build one that actually works.
What a Parenting Plan Covers
A good parenting plan addresses three main areas: parenting time (when the children are with each parent), decision-making responsibility (who makes major decisions), and the practical details of how it all works day to day.
Under Alberta’s Family Law Act and the federal Divorce Act, the language has shifted from “custody” and “access” to “parenting time” and “decision-making responsibility.” The change isn’t just terminology — it reflects a move toward the idea that both parents continue to play an active role in their children’s lives after separation.
Parenting Time: The Schedule
This is the core of the plan. It answers the question: when are the children with each parent?
There’s no single schedule that works for every family. What matters is that the schedule is specific enough to avoid confusion but flexible enough to accommodate real life. Common arrangements include:
• Week-on, week-off: Children alternate weeks with each parent. Works well when parents live close together and children are school-aged.
• 5-2-2-5: One parent has Monday and Tuesday every week, the other has Wednesday and Thursday every week, and weekends alternate. Gives children consistency during the school week.
• Every other weekend plus a weeknight: One parent has the children most of the time; the other parent has every other weekend and one evening per week. Common when one parent is the primary caregiver.
• Custom schedules: Some families build schedules around work shifts, travel, or the children’s activities. There’s no rule that says the schedule has to follow a standard pattern.
Whatever schedule you choose, put it in writing. “We’ll figure it out week by week” sounds flexible, but in practice it creates conflict. A clear schedule with room for agreed-upon changes is better than no schedule at all.
Decision-Making Responsibility
This is about major decisions — not everyday choices like what’s for dinner. Decision-making responsibility typically covers:
• Education: Which school, tutoring, special programs.
• Health care: Medical treatments, dental, mental health, vaccinations.
• Religion and culture: Religious upbringing, cultural practices.
• Extracurricular activities: Sports, music, programs that involve significant time or cost.
You can share decision-making equally (both parents must agree on major decisions), or one parent can have sole decision-making responsibility in some or all areas. You can also divide it by topic — for example, one parent makes education decisions and the other handles health care.
Joint decision-making sounds fair, but it only works if both parents can communicate. If your relationship with your co-parent is high-conflict, building in a dispute resolution process (like mediation before court) is important.
The Details People Forget
The parenting schedule and decision-making are the big-ticket items. But most parenting plan conflicts happen over the details. A strong plan addresses:
• Holidays and special days. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, summer vacation, spring break, Halloween, birthdays (both the children’s and the parents’). Spell out who has the children and when. Alternate year by year or split the day — just make it clear.
• Transitions. Where and when do pickups and drop-offs happen? Who’s responsible for transportation? What if someone is late?
• Communication between homes. How will the children stay in touch with the other parent? Phone calls, video calls, texting? At what times?
• Travel. How much notice is required for out-of-province or international travel? Is the other parent’s consent needed? What about passports?
• Introduction of new partners. Some plans include a waiting period before children are introduced to a parent’s new partner. This isn’t required, but it’s worth discussing.
• Right of first refusal. If one parent can’t be with the children during their scheduled time, does the other parent get the first opportunity to take them before a babysitter or family member steps in?
• Changes to the plan. How do you handle changes? What’s the process for requesting a swap? How much notice is required?
You don’t need to address every possible scenario. But the more specifics you include on the issues that matter to your family, the fewer arguments you’ll have later.
What a Court Looks For
If your parenting plan ends up before a judge — either because you can’t agree or because you’re asking the court to approve what you’ve agreed on — the court will evaluate it based on the best interests of the child. Under the Divorce Act and Alberta’s Family Law Act, this includes factors like:
• The child’s physical, emotional, and psychological needs
• The child’s existing relationships with each parent and other important people
• Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
• The child’s views and preferences (depending on age and maturity)
• Any history of family violence
• The child’s cultural, linguistic, religious, and spiritual upbringing
A plan that clearly prioritizes the children’s needs over the parents’ preferences is the one the court is most likely to approve.
Making It Work
A parenting plan is only as good as both parents’ willingness to follow it. A few things that help:
• Put it in writing. Verbal agreements fall apart. A written plan holds both parents accountable.
• Be specific but not rigid. Life happens. Build in a process for handling changes, and commit to being reasonable when adjustments are needed.
• Use a shared calendar. Apps like OurFamilyWizard or even a shared Google Calendar keep both parents on the same page.
• Review it periodically. What works when your child is 4 won’t necessarily work when they’re 12. Plan to revisit the arrangement as your children grow.
When to Get Help
If you and your co-parent can communicate reasonably well, you can draft a parenting plan together. There are templates available online, and some families work through the details with a mediator.
If communication is difficult, if there’s a history of family violence, or if you’re not sure what a fair arrangement looks like for your specific situation, talking to a lawyer before you finalize anything is worth the investment. A 30-minute consultation can help you understand your options and catch issues you might not have thought of.
If you’re building a parenting plan and want a professional perspective, I’m here to help. Book a $100 consultation — applied to your first session if you decide to work with me.
This post is general information about Alberta family law and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you need advice about your specific circumstances, please consult a lawyer.