Child Custody Schedules - Ideas for a 50-50 Custody Schedule

What are some common 50 50 child custody schedules, arrangements or parenting plans? There are many different 50/50 parenting schedules where the child spends an equal amount of time with each parent. The type of plan chosen and how the child spends time with each parent should reflect what's best for the children and may vary from family to family depending on many factors such as the age of the children, relationship the child has with each parent, work schedules, distance between parent's homes, etc. along with other family dynamics. Below are some common 50 50 child custody schedules the can be altered according to what works best for your children and your specific situation.

3-4-4-3 Parenting Schedule
One common 50 50 child custody schedule is a 3-4-4-3 schedule. An example of this parenting schedule is where the child spends time with parent A from Wednesday through Friday in Week One and Wednesday through Saturday Week Two. And the child would spend time with Parent B from Saturday through Tuesday in Week One and Sunday through Tuesday in Week Two.

This parenting schedule allows for the children to spend an equal amount of time with each parent and have frequent and continuous contact while not going without seeing either parent for more than four days. With this schedule the week day time is consistent between homes with only a few transitions throughout the month. This 50 50 child custody arrangement is more often seen in situations where the children are younger.

Child Custody Schedules - Ideas for a 50-50 Custody Schedule

2-2-3-2-2-3 Parenting Schedule
Another common 50 50 child custody schedule is a 2-2-3-2-2-3 schedule. This parenting schedule is where the child spends Week One with Parent A on Monday and Tuesday (2 days), Parent B on Wednesday and Thursday (2 days) and the weekend with Parent A on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (3 days). The child spends Week Two with Parent B on Monday and Tuesday (2 days), Parent A on Wednesday and Thursday (2 days) and the weekend with Parent B on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (3 days)

This parenting schedule allows for the children to spend an equal amount of time with both parents during the week and on weekends. The parents will alternate weekends Friday-Sunday. The consistency of two consecutive day periods either Monday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Thursday will alternate from week-to-week. While there are a couple more transitions than the 5-2-2-5 schedule, the 2-2-3-2-2-3 schedule allows the child to spend an equal amount of time with both parents and have frequent and continuous contact with both parents, during the week and weekend, with the child not going more than three days without seeing either parent. This 50 50 child custody arrangement is more often seen in cases where the children are a little younger and spending more than three consecutive days with either parent is a concern or preferred.

5-2-2-5 Parenting Schedule
Another common 50 50 child custody schedule is a 5-2-2-5 schedule. This parenting schedule is where the child is with Parent A every Monday and Tuesday (2 days) and Parent B every Wednesday and Thursday (2 days). The weekends from Friday through Sunday would be alternated (3 days) between the parents. The child will be with the parent whose weekend it is for 5 days and the other parent 2 days. Because the weekend time alternates from week to week, the child would end up spending 50% time with both parents.

This parenting schedule allows for the children to spend an equal amount of time with both parents during the week and on weekends. It also affords the children to spend a longer block of time with each parent with only a few transitions between homes throughout the month. This 50 50 child custody arrangement is more often seen in cases where the children are a little bit older and can go without seeing either parent for five consecutive days.

Alternating Weeks Parenting Schedule
Another common 50 50 child custody arrangement is an alternating week schedule or "one week on and one week off" parenting schedule. This parenting schedule is where the child spends one week (7 days) with Parent A in Week One and one week (7 days) with Parent B in Week Two. This schedule is quite common and is more often seen in cases where the children are older and can go without seeing either parent for seven consecutive days.

A common modification of the alternating week schedule is to have a mid-week visit or overnight on Wednesday. In other words, the parent who the child is not with for a given week will have a dinner visit or overnight during the mid-week - typically on Wednesday. As the children grow older, they may be able to transition to a full alternating week parenting schedule. This parenting schedule is often seen in cases where the children are younger.

The alternating week parenting schedule allows the child to spend an equal 50% time with both parents during the week and weekend. It can also make for an easier and more consistent schedule transition during Winter, Spring and Summer break if the schedule remains the same or similar during the holidays.

2010 Child Custody Coach™. All rights reserved.

Child Custody Schedules - Ideas for a 50-50 Custody Schedule
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Child Custody Coach™ supplies information and one-on-one help to parents in the field of child custody and visitation issues, divorce, child custody evaluations, parenting and all divorce and custody related issues including child custody schedules. Steven Carlson, The Custody Coach™ is the author of the winning child custody guide "How to Win Child Custody: Proven Strategies that can Win You Custody & Save You Thousands in Attorney Costs!"

Child Visitation Rights - How Adultery Affects Child Custody

Adultery is by far the most adversarial type of divorce case. Divorce proceedings involving adultery are, as a general rule, very stressful for both spouses.

There are many reasons why people engage in adultery. Anyone can feel insecure, lonely and in need of validation at any time, even within a long and stable relationship. Individuals and relationships go through many different stages. The needs of the spouses can change over time, because of age, background, personality traits and emotional needs. In most adultery cases, the cheating spouse is not seeking a divorce. Generally, they are not thinking that he or she might end up losing close contact with their children.

Not every adultery situation ends in a divorce. But when it does and minor children are involved, then the behavior of the unfaithful spouse can have a negative effect on his or her custody and visitation rights. This is particularly true if that same parent devoted more time to his or her extramarital relationship than to his or her own children.

Child Visitation Rights - How Adultery Affects Child Custody

In a divorce, proceeding adultery can provoke very strong animosities between the two parties. The innocent partner might want to punish the cheating spouse by not allowing him or her to relate to their children. If you are granted custody of your children and your unfaithful ex-spouse was granted visitation rights, the last thing you want to do is to interfere with those rights. Keep in mind that even when engaging in adultery, a parent can still be a great parent. Not only that, but also keep in mind that the visitation order is a mandate of the court that you must observe. If you fail to comply with a court order you might be found in contempt. In some states, being found in contempt of court may mean jail time.

Therefore, no matter how much you hate your ex-spouse, do not interfere with the visitation schedule approved by the court. This can result in you losing custody of your children, having them taken away from you, and/or spending time in jail.

Child Visitation Rights - How Adultery Affects Child Custody
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Learn the facts about child visitation rights and find out custody information that can help your situation.

Child Custody - How Does the Child Custody Court Process Work and What Do I Really Need to Know?

I saw this question posed as a search query and thought that maybe I should provide a basic explanation of how the child custody process begins, but also the logic that it follows as it proceeds through the court system. When parents cannot come to an agreement about how to share their parenting; time, duties, and financial responsibilities, the family court can help resolve these issues.

The first important premise here is that the parents cannot come to an agreement. If parents can work things out on their own, there is no need for the courts to become involved. Often times parents wonder if there is a mandatory requirement that they have a custody agreement if they don't live together. The answer is there is no requirement to have an agreement. Child Custody agreements are only required if they cannot agree.

The whole process gets kicked off by filing a motion, sometimes known as an order to show cause. Either parent can file this and then the rules begin. The parent who files must notify the other parent (there are rules provided on the form you fill out). Then the other parent gets to reply with their own filing. Both of them end up in court on an assigned date to start the process.

Child Custody - How Does the Child Custody Court Process Work and What Do I Really Need to Know?

What you really need to know about this is that when you fill out the documents for the first time, be sure you are organized and ask for exactly what you want. Make sure you setup your visitation schedule ahead of time and create that pattern before you get to court. This way your temporary order will reflect what you truly want. Temporary orders often become permanent and here's why.

Most people are required to go to mediation as part of the process. If the issues are not resolved their you could go onto evaluation, and trial. At minimum most people spend 4-6 months going through the process. If you are in a high conflict custody battle then you can plan on 12-24 months to get through the process. If your temporary order was a bad decision, you may have to live with it forever. You see after 6, 12, 18, 24 months, courts do not like to change a child's routine. Now you would be stuck trying to make a change and restarting the process. So if you can agree with the other parent or at least negotiate the big ticket issues you will be much better off.

Child Custody - How Does the Child Custody Court Process Work and What Do I Really Need to Know?
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Ed Brooks knows firsthand how painful a High Conflict Child Custody battle can be. Ed has created a site where parents can get advice on how to handle all aspects of a high conflict Child Custody battle. If you want to read more about how to Win Child Custody issues you can find it here.

Florida Child Custody Law

What is the definition of child custody in this state? Who is entitled to that custody? Which state has jurisdiction and can children be moved out of that state? What can the party do if a spouse or ex. is in danger of removing the child from the court ordered environment.

Custody, in Florida means being responsible for the needs of a person under the age of 18; this can be further defined by the physical care and supervision of the child. The custodian has a court order for the right of physical custody along with the duty to rear, keep safe and discipline their charge. Medical, food, shelter, education and other material needs are to be provided.

Both parents are entitled to custody. There is joint custody; so ordered by a court. The public policy assures frequent and continuing contact with both parents. If there are extenuating conditions then a child can be put into home with an extended family member by a petition; temporarily. If there is "probable cause" such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment then that child can be "taken into custody" by a police officer or an authorized person and placed with a non relative.

Florida Child Custody Law

In joint custody the court will order both parents to share responsibility, they will both retain their parental rights, and jointly make decisions in the interest of their child. If the child is able and has the intellect, the court may consider their participation in the decision. The court can consider both the parents' desires, or may give one parent the ultimate responsibility for certain aspects of a child's interests or share the responsibilities.

You will need to provide as much information as possible to the court for evaluation in the welfare and interests of the child. This should include information about you and the other party's behavior and finances. A lawyer is recommended but not required. They are helpful in gathering, presenting, and convincing the judge.

Florida has the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. The custody order will be issued in the state that can determine in the best interests of the child. Usually you file in the "home state" where the child has lived with a parent or person for (6) months immediately before the child custody proceeding started. There are exceptions to the "home state" rule such as: when there is "competent substantial evidence" of a risk that a party could violate a court order by removing a child from the state or country without the notarized written permission of both parents. However, providing this information may be difficult. There may be more and complicated steps where an attorney may be needed.

In summary, in Florida, child custody is being responsible for the best interests of a child to include shelter, food, education and other needs for the minor less than 18 years of age. Both parents are entitled to joint or shared custody so ordered by a court. The custody order will be issued in the state that can determine in the best interests of the child; usually the "home state" where the child has lived for (6) months immediately before the child custody proceeding started. When there is "competent substantial evidence" of a risk that a party could violate the court order by removing the child from the state or country a notarized written permission signed by both parents can be submitted.

Florida Child Custody Law
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Child Custody Court Hearings - What to Expect at Your First Custody Hearing

Nothing puts a knot in the pit of your stomach in quite the way the way that going to a custody hearing at family court does. One of the most frequent questions I see is "What should I expect?". Well if you haven't been there or your last experience was bad, then you will want to spend some time educating yourself about what happens and how you should both prepare and act.

Unless you are nearing the end of your court journey and heading to settlement conferences and the like, you will normally have about 15 minutes or less. Excuse me, but that 15 minutes is for your hearing, not the amount of time that you get to speak. By the time the judge speaks, your ex speaks and then you get to have a say you're looking at about 5 minutes.

So your life and your child's fate all comes down to how you spend your 5 minutes. Think about that for just a moment. You have so much to say and if you put yourself in front of a total stranger for 5 minutes, do you think they would see your side? Maybe. And now let that total stranger get 5 minutes with the ex telling them what a horrible person you are. What do you think will happen? Most people aren't optimistic at this point. I mean how are you going to possibly explain all of the ugliness that your ex can put out in 5 minutes?

Child Custody Court Hearings - What to Expect at Your First Custody Hearing

So now that you're convinced no possible good can come from this hearing, let's look at the title again. "What to expect at you first custody hearing". You see the scenario above is what could happen if you don't prepare. But what would happen if we did things a bit differently.

Take the case of a man I just helped prepare for his hearing. He was terrified that his ex was going to leave the state with his child and he would not be able to see her. You see she had remarried and was going to relocate to a military base. This wasn't a threat, this was a foregone conclusion. He was desperate and knew that arguing wasn't going to get him what he wanted.

He was right to be scared and absolutely correct that he would not accomplish anything by arguing. So what I did was taught him to focus his 5 minutes on the issue of his case. No matter what the ex accused him of or how she tried to change the conversation, he was to bring it back focus on not moving his daughter out of state.

When the court date came mother made some rather awful allegations about father and when the judge asked father what he thought of them, father responded, "these issues have no bearing on this motion". The judge agreed and chastised mother. After that it was all downhill for mother and all uphill for father. They were ordered to evaluation and father was awarded temporary custody in the event that mother should need to move before evaluation was not yet complete. You see, what you need to expect is that the court will hear what you have to say. So choose what you want to talk about and focus your 5 minutes.

Child Custody Court Hearings - What to Expect at Your First Custody Hearing
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Want to learn more about high conflict child custody resolution? Receive my brand new series Child Custody "Court Processes and Case Flow".

Want to learn more about handling Child Visitation issues you can find it here.

Grandparents' Temporary Custody

Many loving grandparents are finding themselves in situations where they need to step in and parent their grandchildren. Grandparents as parents can be necessary in certain situations. Sometimes the circumstances need grandparent's temporary custody to be requested and sometimes the best solution means joint child custody between parent and grandparent. In high-risk situations where it would mean possible harm to the child to be in the care of their parent(s),then a probate court ruling can issue what is called Immediate Temporary Custody to a custodial relative like a grandparent. The grandparent's temporary custody would last for 5 business days when a second hearing would be scheduled to rule on further custody of the minor children.

If the situation is not high-risk, but the parent(s) are not fit to care for the child, then a petition or application must be filed with the court to ask for grandparent's temporary custody. Once the petition or application is filed, then a hearing is scheduled. Most likely, a social worker from the Department of Children and Families (or a similar department name, depending on the state you live in) will visit with the grandparent that asked for the hearing to determine if they are a good fit as temporary custodian. This visit could also be a home visit and the findings will be reported at the hearing. This social worker will make their recommendation as to whether the situation needs to be temporary or more permanent. Of course, the judge will make the final ruling after hearing all the information from the lawyers as well, but they will take the report and any testimony of the social worker into consideration.

When a parent is sick, going to jail for less than one year, is going to be treated in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, or some other kind of absence from their children's lives, then they can sign a document obtained from a probate court that says that they are giving 'standby guardianship' to the grandparents. This standby guardianship can give the grandparent's temporary custody for up to 1 year. If the parent is better before the year is up, then they can revoke the guardianship and custody and claim their parental rights.

Grandparents' Temporary Custody

Again, depending on the situation, joint custody between parent and grandparent is another option. Most likely, a court will not approve this kind of arrangement unless the parent(s) consent or if it can be proven that harm may come to the child without a joint custody schedule worked out. It has to be in the best interest of the child and the burden of proof is on the grandparent. However, there are two types of custody that can be discussed. There is physical custody that can be shared on a joint basis and there is legal custody. Physical custody determines where the child lives. Legal custody determines who makes the decisions concerning school, medical care, religion and other important activities for the child. Joint custody between parent and grandparent will need to spell out both types of custody.

What makes these situations so difficult at times is that each case has its own circumstances and so it is treated so differently under the particular laws of the state where the parents and grandparents reside. The best way to know if grandparent's temporary custody or joint custody is best is to seek the advice of legal counsel.

Grandparents' Temporary Custody
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And as a grandparent please keep your grandchildren's best interest in mind. I hope that you are one of those lucky grandparents that has a good relationship with your grandchildren and their parents but if your are not and you are one in a rising number of grandparents as parents let us help you with tips on raising children in today's times. The rights of grandparents temporary custody are certainly something to check out. I wish you all the best. Good luck with your grandchildren.
Jacquelyn Dunn