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Parenting Time Guidelines
We believe the decisions that parents freely and voluntarily make concerning the custodial and parenting time arrangements for their children should be respected. We are committed to helping parents make those decisions, as opposed to imposing a particular plan upon families.
However, when parents cannot agree on these issues, it is our duty to make recommendations to the court on a parenting time plan for the family.
Assessments
Our recommendations are based upon our assessment of what parenting time schedule will work best for the children and both parents. We structure parenting time schedules with the following precepts in mind:
- Every child has an inherent right to the love, affection and financial support of both parents.
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Every child has a right to spend time with both parents and it is the responsibility of both parents to insure this right of their children.
Parenting Time Schedule
Every family is unique, and that is why we prefer that parents devise their own parenting time schedule. Some parents may choose to share physical custody of their children. In other situations, the children spend more of their time with one parent (the custodial parent) and have regular parenting time with the co-parent. In any of these situations, absent special circumstances, where the parents are unable to work out a parenting time schedule on their own, they can expect that the Friend of the Court will generally recommend a schedule reflecting the precepts above.
These guidelines provide many different examples of regular, ongoing care arrangements and schedules for different types of family circumstances.
Further, absent special circumstances, parties can expect to share special holidays, school breaks and events throughout the calendar year. A specific holiday schedule and school break schedule could look like this:
The children shall spend Christmas/Holiday school break in odd numbered years with the co-parent and in even numbered years with the custodial parent. The alternating weekend schedule of parenting time shall continue during the Christmas/Holiday school break.
The children shall spend Spring school break in odd numbered years with the co-parent and in even numbered years with the custodial parent. The alternating weekend schedule of parenting time shall continue during the Spring school break, provided the parent having parenting time does not have out-of-town vacation plans for the Spring school break.
[NOTE: The weeknight visit shall be suspended during Christmas and Spring school break times and shall not be made up.]
In the absence of an agreement by the parties to the contrary, Christmas school break and Spring school break commence the day classes dismiss and end the day before classes resume.
- Holidays shall be alternated. The holiday schedules take precedence over all other scheduled parenting time.
- In even-numbered years the custodial parent will have the following holidays: Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and child's birthday.
- In even-numbered years the co-parent will have the following holidays: Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve, and Halloween.
- In odd-numbered years the custodial parent will have the following holidays: Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve, and Halloween.
- In odd-numbered years the co-parent will have the following holidays: Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and child's birthday. The children shall spend each Mother's Day with Mother and each Father's Day with Father. Parenting time shall be from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Holiday Hours
- Holiday Hours are 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. for Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the child's birthday.
- Holiday Hours for Fourth of July are 9 a.m., July 4 - 9 a.m., July 5.
- Christmas Eve shall be from 9 p.m., December 23 - 9 p.m., December 24.
- Christmas Day shall be from 9 p.m., December 24 - 9 p.m., December 25.
- Halloween night visits shall be from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The children shall spend each Mother’s Day with Mother and each Father’s Day with Father. Parenting time shall be from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Remember: The terms of your court order define the parenting time in your case.
Co-parents are encouraged to cooperate with each other and to be flexible. Agreed-upon deviations from the Court's order, however, should be in writing and signed by both parents to be enforceable.
Special Circumstances
Special circumstances, such as those involving substance abuse, child neglect/abuse, very young children, the absence of an established parenting time relationship with the child, or parents who live a considerable distance from one another, may require a schedule of parenting time that differs from the above.
Transportation
If parties are unable to agree on transportation of the children for parenting time, the parent exercising his or her parenting time shall pick up the children. Parents may designate a 3rd party to provide transportation, provided the 3rd party is known to the children and has a valid driver's license. It is recommended that the parent exercising parenting time provide advance notice that a 3rd party will be transporting the children. Co-parents, teachers, and daycare providers are not expected to turn children over to people who are strangers.
Be Timely
The parenting schedule shall be exercised in a prompt manner. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, a 30-minute delay is allowed for picking up and returning the children.
Communication
If the parent exercising parenting time will not be at their usual residence, then he or she shall provide the other parent with a general itinerary and phone number where he or she and the children can be reached.
Other Activities
Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, a parent shall not schedule the child in activities that will prevent the scheduled parenting time from occurring. When a child, however, regularly participates in an activity, such as music lessons, dance, sports, or scouts, parents are encouraged to attend that activity with their child during their respective parenting times.
Parenting Time Enforcement
In the 13th Circuit, all provisions of the court's orders are uniformly enforced. The parenting time provisions of the court's order are as important to your children as the financial provisions. If you believe that the court order has been violated, the 1st step in enforcement is to provide the Friend of the Court with a written complaint outlining the dates, times and circumstances of the alleged parenting time violation. You must submit your written complaint promptly or the Friend of the Court may choose not to proceed with enforcement.
Long-Distance Parenting Time
When parents are geographically distant from one another, the parenting time schedule outlined in this brochure may not be practical. The Friend of the Court will work with such parents to arrive at a plan that allows the children to spend time with both parents. The parents should expect, however, that for school-age children, this will generally result in the co-parent having extensive parenting time during most, if not all, of the school breaks.