Agreed Principles
1. Children thrive best when they have meaningful
relationships with both of their parents;
2. Parents thrive when they share the parenting responsibilities and obligations of a child with another
parent;
3. Childhood is special and should not be spent with parents in conflict over custody and access. The Fair Parenting schedule is preferred subject to only extreme circumstances on the part of one of the parents or the child; and
4. Parents
that are not involved in the day to day raising of their child should pay
child support to a parent
that is involved on a daily basis.
Pledge
1. I pledge that in the event that I become the parent of a child, I agree that the child should have an equal relationship with both parents.
2. I pledge that I will abide by a schedule whereby my child will reside equally with both parents, with my child residing with one parent every Monday and Tuesday, the other parent every Wednesday and Thursday, and weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) alternate between parents.
3. I pledge that I will respect the other parent's relationship and the activities that the parent chooses to engage the child in during their time together,
4. I pledge that all major decision respecting such things as health, education and religion for the child will be made jointly between myself and the other parent, in consultation with professionals as required.
Further Details:
What does the schedule look like?
The children reside with each parent on the same days each week with the weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) alternating. One parent has the children every Monday and Tuesday and the other parent has the children every Wednesday and Thursday.
All exchanges take place at daycare, school, or summer camp, unless other arrangements are necessary. The parent with whom the children resided with on a weekend, drops the children off at school, daycare or summer camp in the morning and then the children go to the Monday/Tuesday parent after school, daycare or summer camp. The same rules are for the Wednesday morning and Friday morning drop offs. If other arrangements are necessary, the parent who the children are with deliveries the children to their next location (for example the other parent's house on an unexpected snow day).
If the parents cannot agree in writing otherwise, the parent with the lowest Social Security Number (U.S.) or Social Insurance Number (Canada) shall be the Monday/Tuesday parent.
Unless the parents agree otherwise, holidays shall follow the regular schedule.
On a calendar, the schedule looks like this with one
parent,
,
having the children every Monday and Tuesday and every second weekend from
Friday through Sunday (Friday after school until Monday at the beginning of
school); and
one parent,
,
having the children every Wednesday and Thursday and
every second weekend from Friday through Sunday (Friday after school until
Monday at the beginning of school).
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday/Saturday/Sunday | |
| Week 1 |
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| Week 2 |
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Mobility and Travel
Each parent may travel abroad with their children on their respective days with written permission from the other parent to any jurisdiction that is a signatory of the Hague Convention on Child Abduction and subject to any reasonable concerns respecting a child's educational program.
|Unless agreed by both parents in writing, the child's regular residence when with each parent must be reasonably close to the child's school as at the time of separation to facilitate getting the child to school or daycare.
Is this legally binding?
It depends on the circumstances of your relationship. By making the pledge you should assume it will be binding.
Factors a court will consider in implementing the Parent Plan include:
1. Did both parents make the pledge to Fair Parenting; and
2. In cases where there is evidence of severe physical abuse, parental alienation, severe addictions, criminal activity, or severe mental illness then those factors will be taken into account.
Currently, in most custody and access disputes, this pledge will be one of several factors taken into account in determining your child's "best interests". You should get an opinion from a lawyer in your local jurisdiction. This is general information and it may not apply to your jurisdiction.
Will the Fair Parenting Registry support me if I end up in a custody battle?
The Registry invites requests for support. If on review the Fair Parenting Project determines that its involvement may make a difference in a court's acceptance of the Fair Parenting Project, then the Fair Parenting Project may seek to make representations. Please contact the Fair Parenting Project for further information.
Is there a fee to join the Registry?
There is no fee to make the Fair Parenting Pledge and join the Registry.
Entitlement to the Fair Parenting symbol.
Registration entitles you to display the Fair Parenting symbol on your website, Facebook, Twitter or dating account. The symbol can be downloaded here.
Can I remove myself from the Registry?
In the event that you change your mind about adhering to the pledge, you will be removed from the Registry upon your written request.
