How to Make the Best Child Visitation Schedule
Setting up your visitation schedule is one of the most important things to do in your custody case. You want to set up the best schedule for your children and also make sure you get the time you want with them.
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Instructions
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If you don't already have a basic custody arrangement settled, you need to decide on that. You can choose to share joint custody or you can have a custodial parent with visits for the non-custodial parent.
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Choose a repeating cycle of custody. To do this, you make a schedule for a week (or as many weeks as you like) and then have it repeat through the year. For example, you can take a two week period and decide that the parents each get a weekend and the non-custodial parent gets one overnight per week. Make a basic schedule that works for you.
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Take your basic schedule and apply it to the calendar. You need to decide what day the schedule starts and then you just repeat it through the year. Mark it in the calendar in a way that makes it clear when each parent has time (you can use different colors for each parent or different symbols).
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Divide the holidays between the parents. Both parents should get the same number of major and minor holidays. It may be helpful to make a list of the holidays and write down which parent gets them. Then decide when the holidays start and how long they last. Write them in the calendar. (You can choose to make a new holiday schedule every year, or you can just switch the holidays every year.)
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Think about times when there are special events that change the visitation schedule. If your child has an extra-curricular activity that will change the visitation, go through and mark the time.
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Make however many copies you want. Keep them around for easy access and give a copy to the child's other parent.
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Tips & Warnings
You can work with the other parent to create the schedule, or you can prepare a schedule to present to the court.
Custody software is available that can help you make a schedule very easily.
Resources
- Photo Credit Custody X Change Visitation Schedule - Screenshots
