Statutes: Kansas

(a) The objectives of the permanent parenting plan are to:

(1) Establish a proper allocation of parental rights and responsibilities;

(2) establish an appropriate working relationship between the parents such that matters regarding the health, education and welfare of their child is best determined;

(3) provide for the child’s physical care;

(4) set forth an appropriate schedule of parenting time;

(5) maintain the child’s emotional stability;

(6) provide for the child’s changing needs as the child grows and matures in a way that minimizes the need for future modifications to the permanent parenting plan;

(7) minimize the child’s exposure to harmful parental conflict;

(8) encourage the parents, where appropriate, to meet their responsibilities to their minor children through agreements in the permanent parenting plan, rather than by relying on judicial intervention; and

(9) otherwise protect the best interests of the child.

(b) A permanent parenting plan may consist of a general outline of how parental responsibilities and parenting time will be shared and may allow the parents to develop a more detailed agreement on an informal basis; however, a permanent parenting plan must set forth the following minimum provisions:

(1) Designation of the legal custodial relationship of the child;

(2) a schedule for the child’s time with each parent, when appropriate;

(3) a provision for a procedure by which disputes between the parents may be resolved without need for court intervention; and

(4) if either parent is a service member, as defined in K.S.A. 23-3217, and amendments thereto, provisions for custody and parenting time upon military deployment, mobilization, temporary duty or unaccompanied tour of such service member.

(c) A detailed permanent parenting plan shall include those provisions required by subsection (b), and may include, but need not be limited to, provisions relating to:

(1) Residential schedule;

(2) holiday, birthday and vacation planning;

(3) weekends, including holidays and school inservice days preceding or following weekends;

(4) allocation of parental rights and responsibilities regarding matters pertaining to the child’s health, education and welfare;

(5) sharing of and access to information regarding the child;

(6) relocation of parents;

(7) telephone access;

(8) transportation; and

(9) methods for resolving disputes.

(d) The court shall develop a permanent parenting plan, which may include such detailed provisions as the court deems appropriate, when:

(1) So requested by either parent; or

(2) the parent or parents are unable to develop a parenting plan.