(a) The objectives of the permanent parenting plan are to:
- (1) Establish a proper allocation of parental rights and responsibilities;
- (2) establish an appropriate working relationship between the parents such that matters regarding the health, education and welfare of their child is best determined;
- (3) provide for the child's physical care;
- (4) set forth an appropriate schedule of parenting time;
- (5) maintain the child's emotional stability;
- (6) provide for the child's changing needs as the child grows and matures in a way that minimizes the need for future modifications to the permanent parenting plan;
- (7) minimize the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict;
- (8) encourage the parents, where appropriate, to meet their responsibilities to their minor children through agreements in the permanent parenting plan, rather than by relying on judicial intervention; and
- (9) otherwise protect the best interests of the child.
(b) A permanent parenting plan may consist of a general outline of how parental responsibilities and parenting time will be shared and may allow the parents to develop a more detailed agreement on an informal basis; however, a permanent parenting plan must set forth the following minimum provisions:
- (1) Designation of the legal custodial relationship of the child;
- (2) a schedule for the child's time with each parent, when appropriate;
- (3) a provision for a procedure by which disputes between the parents may be resolved without need for court intervention; and
- (4) if either parent is a service member, as defined in K.S.A. 23-3217, and amendments thereto, provisions for custody and parenting time upon military deployment, mobilization, temporary duty or unaccompanied tour of such service member.
(c) A detailed permanent parenting plan shall include those provisions required by subsection (b), and may include, but need not be limited to, provisions relating to:
- (1) Residential schedule;
- (2) holiday, birthday and vacation planning;
- (3) weekends, including holidays and school inservice days preceding or following weekends;
- (4) allocation of parental rights and responsibilities regarding matters pertaining to the child's health, education and welfare;
- (5) sharing of and access to information regarding the child;
- (6) relocation of parents;
- (7) telephone access;
- (8) transportation; and
- (9) methods for resolving disputes.
(d) The court shall develop a permanent parenting plan, which may include such detailed provisions as the court deems appropriate, when:
- (1) So requested by either parent; or
- (2) the parent or parents are unable to develop a parenting plan.
L. 2000, ch. 171, § 27; L. 2008, ch. 151, § 2; May 22.