What Are Standard Visitation Schedules?

Parents who divorce have the option of coming up with their own unique parenting plans and visitation schedules. However, when two parties are unable to reach an agreement on how to share custody, courts are often required to step in and implement a plan on the parties’ behalf. In these cases, where both parents wish to share equal custody, judges often put standard visitation schedules in place. There are a few different types of schedules that fall under this category, so we’ll describe the most common below for your reference.

The 2-2-3 Time-Sharing Schedule 

The 2-2-3 visitation schedule allows children to see both parents on a consistent basis, as it involves a child spending two days with one parent, the next two with the other parent, and then back to the first parent for three days. The next week, the parents will alternate, so that the second parent has three consecutive days with the child at the end of the week. This option is a good choice for co-parents who want to implement a 50/50 custody arrangement and who live close enough that transporting the child between homes isn’t too hectic. The 2-2-3 schedule is also a good option for parents of young children, but may become less easy to implement as children grow and have busier schedules.

The 2-2-5-5 Time-Sharing Schedule 

The 2-2-5-5 time-sharing schedule is more straightforward, with each parent getting to spend two days with their child, followed by five consecutive days. Again, this is one of the most popular choices for parents who live near each other and their child’s school and who wish to implement a more equal time-sharing arrangement while their children are young. It’s also beneficial for parents with stable work weeks, rather than on-call availability. Parents will also need to communicate a lot to discuss exchanges and potential modifications, so this kind of arrangement is not generally encouraged for parents with an acrimonious relationship.

The 3-4-4-3 Time-Sharing Schedule

The 3-4-4-3 visitation arrangement is an alternative schedule that allows for equal time-sharing, in which a child spends three days with one parent, four days with the second, four with the first, and then three with the second in a repeat cycle. This is a popular option for parents who share custody because the parents have the same nights each week (except for one that switches). This means that all of the parties can get used to a stable, relatively unchanging schedule, which can make it easier to implement routines. Children also get to spend a significant amount of time with each parent, there are fewer exchanges, and both parents can help with daily caretaking tasks. This schedule is beneficial for parents with differing work schedules and who live close together.

Our Time-Sharing Legal Team Can Help 

The visitation schedule you create, or that is determined by a judge, will depend on the specific needs of your child and family. For help crafting a schedule that fits your own family’s needs, please call 954-945-7591 and set up a meeting with dedicated Florida Fort Lauderdale child visitation and time-sharing attorney Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. today.

Sources: 

floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Documents/pdf/CS-PTP01_n.4.18.pdf

15thcircuit.com/sites/default/files/divisions/family/Model-Visitation-Schedule-Phillips-2005.pdf