Parenting plans—also known as custody agreements or custody and visitation agreements—are proposals submitted by parents for how issues involving children should be handled following a divorce or other proceeding in family court. The court will usually request the parents submit such a document proposing how conservatorship (decision-making), custody or possession, support, and other issues will be handled. The court may adopt some or all of these proposals and include them in the court’s order (divorce decree, child support and custody order), at which point the become legally enforceable.

In many states there is a standard possession order (SPO) that serves as the default terms for such matters, and as a useful starting point for parents who wish to modify it by agreement.

In Hawaii, parenting plans are required in cases involving child custody as part of divorce or family court proceedings. These plans outline how parents will share decision-making (conservatorship), physical custody or visitation (possession), child support, and other child-related matters post-separation. Hawaii law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child. If the parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically review it to ensure it meets legal standards and the child's best interests before incorporating it into the final order. If parents cannot agree, the court may order mediation or appoint a custody evaluator to assist in creating a plan. The court will then make a decision based on the child's best interests. Hawaii does not have a standard possession order (SPO) like some states, but the court may use guidelines to determine a reasonable custody and visitation schedule if parents cannot agree on one.