Bristow, Virginia · Separation Agreements
If you and your co-parent can agree, you can write your own parenting plan into a separation agreement instead of leaving it to a judge. The plans that hold up are the detailed ones. The vague ones are where next year’s argument starts. Let me walk you through what a strong Bristow parenting plan includes.
By Corrie Sirkin, Esq. · Founding Partner, NOVA Legal Professionals
This article is one part of our larger divorce guide. For the full picture, start with our cornerstone, Divorce in Virginia. Here, I will focus on the parenting plan inside your agreement.
Your plan, not the court’s
When parents agree, they can settle custody and parenting in a separation agreement, which is enforceable once written and signed under Va. Code § 20-155 and can be incorporated into the divorce decree under Va. Code § 20-109.1. That means you, not a judge, decide the schedule that fits your family, as long as it serves the children. The more clearly you write it, the more it protects everyone. For the full document, see our separation agreements page.
What a strong plan covers
- The regular schedule, which nights and days the children spend with each parent.
- Holidays and school breaks, spelled out by year, including birthdays and summer.
- Exchanges, where and when handoffs happen, and how you communicate about them.
- Decision-making, how you will handle school, health, and activities together.
- Travel and relocation, notice for trips and what happens if a parent wants to move.
A Word About Vague Plans
“We will share holidays reasonably” sounds fine until the first Thanksgiving. The gaps you leave become the fights you have. Specific beats flexible when the relationship is strained. A detailed plan is not a sign of distrust, it is the thing that lets two co-parents avoid conflict because the answer is already on paper.
Want a parenting plan that prevents fights?
A short conversation can help you build a schedule detailed enough to hold. No pressure, no commitment.
Child support goes with it
A parenting plan and child support travel together. You can agree on support, but it follows the statewide guideline under Va. Code § 20-108.2, and the court reviews it to protect the child, a parent cannot simply waive a child’s support. Running the guideline gives you a grounded number. Keep in mind that, unlike property terms, custody and child support stay modifiable if circumstances change.
Where a Bristow case is filed
A Bristow divorce is filed in the Prince William County Circuit Court, the 31st Judicial Circuit, at the Prince William Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue in Manassas. A clear, agreed parenting plan is what lets that filing move smoothly, often without a contested hearing.
“A good parenting plan answers the question before it becomes an argument. Detail is not distrust, it is how two homes run in peace.”
Corrie Sirkin, Esq. · Founding Partner
Corrie’s Practical Advice
Three habits make a Bristow parenting plan hold. First, spell out the holidays and breaks by name and year, because “reasonable” is where co-parents disagree. Second, agree on how you will communicate and make decisions, since the process matters as much as the schedule. Third, run the child support guideline so the number is grounded and the court approves it without question. Build the plan for the hard days, not the easy ones, and it will carry you through both.
Write the plan you would want on your worst co-parenting day. That is the one that holds.
Authoritative References
Sources
- Code of Virginia, § 20-155. Marital agreements between spouses are enforceable when in writing and signed by both parties. law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title20
- Code of Virginia, § 20-109.1. Incorporation of a marital agreement into the decree of divorce. law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title20
- Code of Virginia, §§ 20-108.2 and 20-124.3. Statewide child support guideline, and best interests of the child for custody and visitation. law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title20
- Prince William County Circuit Court (31st Judicial Circuit). Divorce filing at the Prince William Judicial Center, serving Bristow. pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court
Statutory rules verified against the current Code of Virginia as of June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we make our own parenting plan instead of going to court?
Yes. If you and your co-parent agree, you can write the custody and parenting terms into a separation agreement, enforceable under Va. Code § 20-155 and incorporated into the decree under Va. Code § 20-109.1. You decide the schedule that fits your family, as long as it serves the children, rather than leaving the decision to a judge.
What should a parenting plan include?
The regular weekly schedule, holidays and school breaks spelled out by year, exchange logistics, how you communicate, how major decisions about school and health are made, and rules for travel and relocation. The more specific the plan, the fewer disputes later. Vague terms like “share holidays reasonably” are where conflict tends to begin.
Can we set our own child support?
You can agree on an amount, but it follows the statewide guideline under Va. Code § 20-108.2, and the court reviews it to make sure it serves the child. A parent cannot simply waive a child’s support. Running the guideline gives you a grounded figure that the court is far more likely to approve without question.
Can the parenting plan change later?
Yes. Unlike property division, which is generally final, custody and child support remain modifiable when there is a material change in circumstances affecting the children. So your plan can be adjusted as the children grow or life changes, but a clear starting plan still matters, because it governs until a court or a new agreement changes it.
What if we cannot agree on the schedule?
Then the custody question may have to be decided by the court on the best interests of the child under Va. Code § 20-124.3. Often, though, narrowing the disagreement to a few specific points, and getting help resolving them, lets you still reach an agreed plan. Agreeing keeps control in your hands and is usually easier on the children than a contested fight.
When You Are Ready
Let’s build a Bristow parenting plan that lasts.
Tell me about your children and your schedules, and I will help you write a plan detailed enough to keep the peace. The first call is a conversation, not a commitment.
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