The family law system encourages separating parents to work out arrangements for children between themselves without having to go to court.

One way by which parents can set out the arrangements they wish to put in place for their children is to make a Parenting Plan. A Parenting Plan is a written agreement between parents covering practical issues of parental responsibility. This Parenting Plan can then be made legally binding into Parenting Consent Orders, if the parties wish to do so.