Parenting Plan Review
You've got a draft parenting plan together. Maybe you did the work yourself or wrote it with your ex. Perhaps you used an app or an online template.
Whatever the method, it's probably the first time you've done this and you want to check you haven't missed anything important. You also don't want to spend thousands of dollars on lawyers' fees that you'd rather spend on the kids.
Before your plan goes any further, have it checked by someone who helps parents craft practical plans like these and reads them every week.
Your plan is read and reviewed by an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, not an app.
What you get
You get a written report on your draft that picks up:
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Topics your plan doesn't cover at all.
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Topics it mentions but leaves unclear.
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Wording that could be read more than one way.
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Questions to work through.​​
Used an app or online template?
Many parenting plan apps and templates were written for other countries (or use outdated legal terms and concepts). Plans built on them may:​
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Use American terms such as custody and visitation, which Australian family law doesn't use.
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Speak of "equal shared parental responsibility", which the Family Law Act dropped on 6 May 2024.
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Include clauses written for other countries (such as which parent claims the children on their tax return or whether a child may date, marry or join the military).
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Refer to US military "permanent change of station orders" or ask for the plan to be notarised.
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Set out a process for disagreements that never mentions family dispute resolution.
A plan like this can look finished and still fall apart the first time you disagree. You end up arguing over what the words mean, not what's best for your kids. That can mean more conflict, more cost and more stress for your children. Your review picks these problems up before your plan goes any further.
What this isn't
This isn't legal advice. Your review is done by an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, not a lawyer, so the report won't tell you whether a term is enforceable.
Where a question needs a lawyer, we'll say so.
Common questions about parenting plan reviews
Who is it for?
Anyone with a draft parenting plan who wants it checked. Often that's one parent who's put a draft together to share with the other parent. Sometimes it's both parents, checking a plan they've agreed before they sign. Only one of you needs to ask for the review. Where only one parent asks, we'll ask for your agreement to share the report with the other parent if they request it. If you'd rather work out the arrangements together with help, that's what mediation is for.
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How much does a parenting plan review cost?
The fee is fixed at $300 (plus GST) so you know the cost before you send anything.
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How long does a parenting plan review take?
You get the report within two business days of paying your invoice.
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How does it work?
Complete a short online form and upload your draft. Word is best. PDF works, but not photos or scans. Tell us whether you're both asking for the review or just one of you. We email you an invoice, and once it's paid we read your plan and send you the report.
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Can I use it if I'm not in Canberra?
Yes. It's done entirely online, so where you live makes no difference. We work with parents across Australia, including Australians living overseas.
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Our plan was drafted by a lawyer. Is a review still useful?
It can be. A lawyer drafts for legal effect. A review looks at whether the plan covers the practical ground that causes arguments later, like changeovers, holidays, communication and how you'll handle changes.
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Can we go to mediation afterwards?
Yes. Some parents find the review shows them they're further apart than they thought. If that happens, we can talk about mediation.
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Can a parenting plan be made legally binding?
Not on its own. A parenting plan is a written agreement, signed and dated by both parents, and it isn't enforceable the way a court order is. If you want it to be binding, you can ask the court to make consent orders. You'll need a lawyer for that, and we can explain the difference.
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What if there are already court orders in place?
Tell us on the form. A parenting plan can interact with existing orders, so we need to know before we read your draft.
Online, anywhere in Australia
PHONE
02 6110 2004 (9am to 5pm) Mon to Friday