Questions parents ask first
Parents looking for a parenting plan often want to know who this is for, what the plan includes, how long it takes, and whether they should use the free court forms instead. The answers below explain the DoUsParent process in plain language.
A parenting plan for unmarried parents is a written agreement that explains how two parents will raise their children when they are not married and not living in the same home. It usually covers the regular parenting schedule, holidays, how major decisions will be made, communication between parents, and what happens if a parent moves. Courts look at parenting time, decision-making, and the child’s best interest. Putting the plan in writing reduces confusion later. DoUsParent helps parents create that plan through a guided process with attorney review.
Yes. Both parents have to agree. DoUsParent is built for unmarried parents who can work out a parenting plan together. If one parent will not participate, or the parents cannot agree on the schedule or decision-making terms, this process will not work. In that situation, a contested court process is the usual next step. The value of this service is that parents who can agree do not have to manage a fight in court to get a written, filed plan.
A licensed Montana attorney reviewed the questions and the document language before this service opened. Your answers fill those approved options. The completed set is sent to the firm before signing. A lawyer does not rewrite a custom plan for each family. If a family needs terms this process does not offer, this is not the right service.
The first part of the timeline is in the parents’ control. It depends on how quickly both parents answer the questions, review the draft, and sign. After the documents are signed, we file the case. From that point, timing depends on the court. Some cases move quickly. Others take longer if the court has questions or requires a hearing. We cannot promise a set number of days, but the process is built to avoid extra delay once both parents are ready to move forward.
Yes. Montana courts provide free parenting plan forms and instructional videos. Parents can complete the packet, pay the filing fee, file the case, and handle service and any hearing themselves. That path can work if you have time to manage each court step. DoUsParent is different. You answer guided questions, we prepare the documents, a licensed attorney reviews them, remote notarization is included, the filing fee is included, and we file the case. Choose the court forms if you want to do the work yourself. Choose DoUsParent if you want a completed, attorney-reviewed process.
No. You choose from the schedules this service offers. If none of those fit, this is not the right service.
The current Montana price is $1,600. That flat fee includes preparation of the parenting plan and required court documents, review by a licensed Montana attorney, remote notarization, the court filing fee, and filing. There are no hourly rates for those included steps. We represent only the parent who hires us. Pricing for additional states will be listed when those services open. See the pricing section for the current details.
The parent who hires DoUsParent pays the flat fee. We represent only that parent. The other parent can review and sign the parenting plan, or hire a separate attorney, but we do not bill the other parent and we cannot give that parent legal advice. Current pricing is listed on the pricing section of this page. The fee includes document preparation, attorney review, remote notarization, the court filing fee, and filing.
No. Only one parent needs to meet residency requirements (unless the state requires otherwise). The other parent does not have to live in the same state. This matters because many unmarried parents live in different cities or states and still need a written parenting plan. If neither parent meets the state’s residency requirements, this service is not the right fit yet. Additional states will be added over time.
No. This service is for parents who agree. We prepare the plan from attorney-reviewed options and file it. A hearing is needed only if the court requires one. If you cannot agree, you need a contested case, not this process.
DoUsParent is available in Montana now. We designed the service so additional states can be added without changing the basic process. If you live outside Montana and need a parenting plan for unmarried parents, you can send a message through the contact form. We can keep your note and let you know when the service opens in your state. Until then, Montana residency rules still apply to the current service.