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 Virginia, parenting plans are a crucial component of family law proceedings involving children. These plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share responsibilities and time with their children. Virginia law encourages parents to work together to create a parenting plan that serves the best interests of the child, covering decision-making authority (conservatorship), physical custody (possession), child support, and other relevant issues. If parents can agree on a plan, the court will typically review it to ensure it meets the child's best interests before incorporating it into a final order, such as a divorce decree or a custody and support order, making it legally binding. In cases where parents cannot agree, the court will make a determination based on various factors, including the child's needs, each parent's role and relationship with the child, and the parents' ability to cooperate. Virginia does not have a 'standard possession order' like some states, but the state's guidelines and case law serve as a framework for determining custody arrangements.