A child custody schedule gives each parent specific dates when their child lives with them. This schedule allows co-parents to share the time they spend with their children.
Parents need to discuss the terms of a custody schedule during and after divorce in order to come up with a comprehensive plan moving forward that will prioritize their children’s needs. Here’s where that starts:
5 considerations when forming a custody schedule
When preparing for the child custody process, parents may want to draft a custody schedule with the following considerations:
- How often can each parent care for their children? Parents may need to consider rotating custody schedules around their work and school schedules. This may mean that custody is swapped every week or every two weeks, depending on how busy parents are each day.
- Do parents have to travel frequently? The distance between parents can affect custody schedules. Parents who live in different cities or states might need to consider monthly custody rotations because of lengthy and expensive travel times.
- What special needs does a child have? Children with special needs generally need more daily care. A parent who has more free time may have more custody days to care for their child’s special needs.
- What happens when a parent wants to go on vacation? Whether a parent is going on a solo vacation or wants to travel with their children, parents need to discuss the impact that travel will have on custody arrangements. Parents may request longer custody time when going on vacation.
- How is custody handled during the holidays? Parents often want to spend the holidays forming memories with their children. Parents may need to consider splitting or sharing holidays or rotating holidays every year.
Creating a custody schedule that works for both parents and children can take time. Parents can discuss their options with professional legal help.
