How to Draft a Parenting Plan in New York Without a Lawyer
Step-by-step guide to drafting a court-ready New York parenting plan yourself — residential schedule, legal custody, CSSA support, and holiday rotation.
Blog
All articles about New York Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide.
What Age Can a Child Choose Custody in New York?
New York has no fixed age at which a child can choose custody. Here's how courts actually weigh a child's preference, and what a Lincoln hearing is.
NY Custody Guide vs. Hiring a Family Lawyer: Which Do You Actually Need?
Compare a self-guided New York custody toolkit against a $3,000-$15,000 family law retainer. Honest breakdown of when each makes sense.
How Long Does a Custody Case Take in New York?
Custody case timelines in New York's Family Court and Supreme Court — uncontested vs. contested cases, mediation, and the delay trap that can affect your outcome.
How to Prepare for a Custody Hearing in New York (Pro Se Guide)
What to expect at a New York custody hearing, how to represent yourself in custody court, and the preparation steps that actually help you keep or win custody.
Best New York Custody Guide for Parents Who Already Agree
For NY parents who've agreed on custody in principle: the guide built to formalize your agreement into a court-ready parenting plan without attorney rates.
How to Create a Parenting Plan in New York (Requirements & Checklist)
What New York courts require in a parenting plan, what to include, and a step-by-step process for drafting one that holds up to judicial review.
Alternatives to Hiring a Custody Attorney in New York
Six alternatives to a full-service New York custody attorney — from court help centers to mediation to self-guided toolkits. Honest pros and cons for each.
How to File for Custody in New York (Family Court Petition Process)
Step-by-step guide to filing a custody petition in New York Family Court: which forms to use, where to file, and what happens after you submit.
Best Custody Toolkit for New York Mediation Preparation
How to prepare for New York Presumptive ADR custody mediation with structured proposals, CSSA numbers, and a parenting plan framework.
New York Parent Education and Awareness Program: What Divorcing Parents Need to Know
How New York's Parent Education and Awareness Program (PEAP) works for divorcing parents — when a judge can order it, what it covers, and the domestic violence opt-out under Part 144.
Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody in New York (Joint, Sole & Primary Residential)
The difference between legal and physical custody in New York, plus how joint, sole, and primary residential custody actually work in a parenting plan.
How to Get Full Custody in New York
What it actually takes to get sole custody in New York, how courts weigh the request, and how sole custody differs from joint custody.
Uncontested Divorce With Children in New York: What's Different
How an uncontested divorce with minor children works differently in New York, including the forms, custody stipulation, and filing sequence.
Sole Custody vs. Joint Custody in New York: Which One Actually Fits Your Family
Sole custody vs joint custody in New York — how legal and physical custody combine, what Braiman v. Braiman means for forced joint custody, and how to decide.
Relocating with Your Child After Divorce in New York
New York's relocation rules for parents moving with a child after divorce — the Tropea standard, what counts as relocation, and how courts decide.
Custody Rights for Unmarried Parents in New York
How custody works for unmarried parents in New York, why paternity has to be established first, and how to file in Family Court.
Child Support with Joint Custody in New York (The 50/50 Myth)
How child support works with joint custody in New York, who pays in a 50/50 arrangement, and what Bast v. Rossoff actually decided.
Child Support and Custody in New York: How They Interact
Why 50/50 custody doesn't eliminate child support in New York, how the CSSA formula works, and what Bast v. Rossoff means for shared custody.
Violation of a Custody Order in New York: What to Do When the Other Parent Won't Comply
How to respond when a co-parent violates a New York custody order — filing a violation petition, what evidence courts need, and what penalties a judge can impose.
Temporary Custody Orders in New York
How to get a temporary custody order in New York during separation or while a divorce is pending, and why the temporary schedule matters more than parents expect.
New York Parenting Plan Template: What to Include
The sections a New York parenting plan needs to hold up in court, from decision-making authority to holiday schedules and dispute resolution.
Parenting Classes for Divorce in New York: Is the Parent Education Program Mandatory?
What New York's Parent Education and Awareness Program covers, when courts require it in a divorce with children, and how to find a certified provider.
Law Guardian / Attorney for the Child in New York Custody Cases
What a law guardian (attorney for the child) does in a New York custody case, when one is appointed, and how they affect the outcome.
Fathers' Rights in New York Custody Cases
What New York law actually says about fathers and custody — including rights for unmarried fathers and whether courts really favor mothers.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in New York
When grandparents have legal standing to petition for visitation in New York, what the court considers, and how the process works.
Tropea v. Tropea: New York's Relocation Standard Explained
How New York decides child relocation disputes under Tropea v. Tropea, and what a moving parent needs to prove to get court approval.
Supervised Visitation in New York: When and How It's Ordered
When New York courts order supervised visitation, who supervises, and how a parent can work toward unsupervised parenting time.
How to Modify a Custody Order in New York
How to change a custody agreement in New York — the substantial change in circumstances standard, what qualifies, and the Family Court modification process.
Forensic Custody Evaluations in New York: What to Expect and How They're Used
How court-ordered forensic custody evaluations work in New York, what the evaluator assesses, and how the report affects your custody case.
Grandparent Custody Rights in New York
When grandparents can seek actual custody (not just visitation) in New York, the extraordinary circumstances standard, and how these cases differ from parent-vs-parent disputes.
Emergency Custody Petition in New York: How to File an Order to Show Cause
How to file an emergency custody petition in New York, when courts actually grant emergency relief, and what to include in your Order to Show Cause.
Custody Schedule Examples for New York Parents
Common New York parenting time schedules by age group, plus how to structure holidays, summer break, and school breaks in a plan courts will approve.
Child Custody Mediation in New York: Presumptive ADR, Cost & How to Prepare
How custody mediation works in New York, what the Presumptive ADR program requires, typical mediation costs, and how to prepare for a session.