Starting with the AFCC Parenting Plan: The AFCC Guide Useful First Steps for Separating Parents
Starting with the AFCC Parenting Plan: The AFCC Guide Useful First Steps for Separating Parents
When parents first separate, the legal questions are overwhelming. Who will the children live with? How often will they see each parent? What is fair for the children and us? Behind all of these questions sits the governing legal standard, the best interests of the child. For most parents, that does not give parents a clear roadmap. Referencing the Best Interest factors in applicable family legislation, whether the Divorce Act or the Family Law Act doesn’t necessarily help either. The question for most is how to structure a day-to-day parenting arrangement.
A Practical Starting Point for Parenting After Separation
This is where the AFCC Parenting Plan Guide has become an increasingly valuable resource for families across the county. The AFCC combines knowledge gained from developmental research on the impact of parental separation and divorce on children, with practical insights about the needs of children with parents living apart. This Guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the AFCC Alberta Parenting Plan Template, which offers suggestions for specific clauses that can be used or adapted for a parenting plan. Although it is not binding law like other guidelines in family law, it has emerged as one of the most useful tools for parents at the early stages of separation. It provides a practical framework grounded in child development research thinking about parenting after separation, and it does so in a manner that is accessible to people without a law degree. For many families, it represents the first point at which abstract legal principles begin to translate into concrete planning.
The Guide’s usefulness lies in how it is structured to the reader. Rather than beginning from positions or entitlements, it encourages parents to consider how children at different developmental stages experience separation, transitions between homes, and time away from each parent. It will explicitly lay out structures for children at different points in their lives and how the research informs why this may make sense for your family. It is also important to recognize that the Guide is not simply a theoretical document. It provides examples of parenting schedules, discusses the practical realities of shared parenting, and addresses common sources of difficulty such as transitions, communication, and consistency between households.
Increasing Influence in Court Decisions
What is perhaps less obvious to parents at the outset is that this same resource is increasingly influencing how courts approach parenting disputes. While the Guide remains non-binding, courts have shown a growing willingness to rely on the social science principles it summarizes. Judges over the past several years have repeatedly referenced it as a helpful articulation of child development research and best practices in post-separation parenting. More recently, there are indications that courts expect those principles to be at least considered, even where they are not expressly raised by the parties.
For clients, this development has practical implications. A parenting proposal that aligns with widely accepted developmental principles is more likely to be viewed as reasonable, even if it is not ultimately adopted in full. Equally, a proposal that departs significantly from those principles may require a clearer articulation of why such a plan is not appropriate. This does not mean that the AFCC Parenting Plan Guide dictates outcomes, but it does mean that it is becoming part of the broader framework within which parenting decisions are assessed. Especially if your matter needs to proceed to court for resolution.
A Guide, Not a Formula – Put Children First
It’s worth noting that the guide is not to be applied mechanically or rigidly, but more and more courts are turning to this resource to articulate and confirm their findings. The circumstances of each family are unique, and the best interests of a particular child cannot be reduced to generalized recommendations. Best interest factors under the Family Legislation will still be weighed against each other in any court determination, but the Guide does have value as a starting point. For many parents, the most difficult part of the process is simply knowing where to begin. The Guide provides a foundation that is both practical and grounded in research. It helps parents understand what issues need to be addressed and offers a framework for doing so in a way that is focused on the child rather than the dispute. Starting with this tool may prevent conflict before it even begins if both parties are committed to exploring the information contained within. This offers a great first start for putting children first in separation. The parent guide can be found through the AFCC website.
This publication is provided as an information service and may include items reported from other sources. We do not warrant its accuracy. This information is not meant as legal opinion or advice. This information may have changed from the date of publication, please contact Kahane Law Office for further information.