It needs identifying data which would be a place for the names of the parties; the date and place of the marriage; and the names and dates of birth of the children under the custody aspect.  It has to describe equal custody and physical custody; including living arrangements and a parenting plan. This concludes on weekdays, weekends, birthdays; how to transport on holidays and vacations and summer.

If there would be periodic reviews or future modifications; each parent access to the child when they are with the other parent; including by phone, relocation, travel outside of the Massachusetts and notification of illness.  If there is access to the children’s records, then access of other relatives to the children.  Emergency decisions and day to day decisions; the parents cooperating with each other; not bad mouthing each other; religious and major decisions.

For Child Support Section: it would be listed as the support amount and how it is being determined; and if it is under the child support guideline or not following the guidelines.  What will happen for extracurricular activities? What will happen for camp or private schools?  How will the childcare costs are going to be paid?  How much the cost of vacations are going to be paid and when it will go until?

Also, Defining what emancipation and when a child become independent.  The time of the payment if there would be periodically reviews or future modifications.  The impact if one child becomes emancipated.  If there is a tax impact.  If the dependency exemptions and if there are accounts for the children.

For education:  it would have the definition of education. Whether it is daycare, elementary, secondary schools or college; or other schools. What it includes, whether that is tuition, room and board, application fees, travel home expenses, books, computer, and so forth and how that is divided; whether that is the children are paying for part of it, work, scholarships, parental contributions; loans and who is responsible for the loans. The involvement of the parties in the process of choosing the college and the involvement of the parties in the financial aid application. 

These are some of the issues dealing with kids in divorce as a check list.