Federal Grant to Be Used to Help Unwed Parents File Parenting Plans

It has just become easier for unmarried parents in Washington State to file parenting plans that detail how they will raise their children while living in separate households.

The Washington Department of Social and Health Services has received a $225,000 federal grant that will be used to finance a three-year project called "Focus on the Child: Family-Centered Services for Unwed Parents in Washington State."

The project calls for the DSHS Division of Child Support to work with local government agencies to assist unwed parents in filing "official" parenting plans. Other organizations, community groups, court facilitators, and dispute resolution centers will be brought in to help with the development and eventual filing of the plans.

What is a Parenting Plan?

A parenting plan is essentially an agreement between a child's parents that details how their child will be raised. It can include such things as a custody arrangement, visitation schedule, what type of religious activity the child will be involved in, where the child will go to school, medical and health care decisions, when vacations will be taken, and what type of moral values and training the child should receive.

If you are interested in learning more about developing a parenting plan, please click here to find a family law attorney near you!