[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/need-parenting-plan\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/need-parenting-plan\/","headline":"Why Do We Need a Parenting Plan?","name":"Why Do We Need a Parenting Plan?","description":"Couples who are in the divorce process in Arizona and who have children under age 18 should create a written \u201cparenting plan\u201d for several reasons.\u00a0Parenting plans\u00a0spell out important details, such as which parent will take care of the child at which times and which parent will have legal custody. If...","datePublished":"2013-04-01","dateModified":"2025-05-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/author\/phoenixlawteam\/#Person","name":"Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C.","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/author\/phoenixlawteam\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e4dc39d74dcc876245d4603866817c2b3e4a9be1d45c3ef67992bd821d77cbb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e4dc39d74dcc876245d4603866817c2b3e4a9be1d45c3ef67992bd821d77cbb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Mushkatel-robbins-becker-pllc-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Mushkatel-robbins-becker-pllc-logo.png","width":459,"height":157}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mushkatel-Groupshot-3.gif","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mushkatel-Groupshot-3.gif","width":300,"height":184},"url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/need-parenting-plan\/","about":["Child Custody"],"wordCount":283,"keywords":["arizona parenting time plan","az legal custody","az physical custody","phoenix divorce law firm"],"articleBody":"Couples who are in the divorce process in Arizona and who have children under age 18 should create a written \u201cparenting plan\u201d for several reasons.\u00a0Parenting plans\u00a0spell out important details, such as which parent will take care of the child at which times and which parent will have legal custody. If you need help creating a parent plan or dealing with other custody and support issues, the experienced\u00a0Phoenix family law attorneys at\u00a0Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. can help.Arizona parenting plans fulfill several functions:Encouraging cooperation.\u00a0Arizona courts prefer that parenting plans are made and agreed upon by the parents. With a parenting plan in writing, both parents know what the \u201cground rules\u201d are for raising their children. These \u201cground rules\u201d can cover everything from schedules and household rules to religious upbringing, school plans, medical care, and more.Focusing on the child.\u00a0Parenting plans encourage the parents to focus on the needs and interests of each of their children. While parents often have their own feelings to work out about one another during divorce, children do best when they know that both parents have their best interests in mind \u2013 even if the parents have unresolved issues with one another.Clarifying obligations.\u00a0Parenting plans in Arizona help clarify both physical and legal custody issues.\u00a0\u201cPhysical custody\u201d refers to where the child lives and which parent is responsible for the child\u2019s immediate needs, like food, shelter, and medical care, at any given time. \u201cLegal custody\u201d refers to which parent has the responsibility for making major decisions for their child. Parents may share custody or appoint custody to one parent, and this arrangement is reinforced by the parenting time agreement."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why Do We Need a Parenting Plan?","item":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/need-parenting-plan\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]