If you have been awarded joint custody, you may want to consider using a 50/50 child custody schedule. Learn more about choosing the right kind of custody schedule for your situation.
If you have been awarded joint physical
custody, you may need to make a 50/50 child custody schedule to make
your custody and visitation schedule works better. There are many
different types of 50/50 custody schedules you can use to make your
situation work. Let's take a look at some of the most common 50/50
custody schedules and see which one works best for your situation.
2/2/5/5 - This schedule allows each
parent to care for the children for two days and then five days
respectively. This switches back and forth. This schedule requires a
lot of changing on the children's parts. This is a good schedule is
good for children who adapt well to change and if parents' homes are
close together.
3/3/4/4 - This schedule is where
each parent cares for the children for three days and then four days
respectively. Like the 2/2/5/5 schedule, this schedule requires a lot
of switching for the children and is most effective if parents live
near each other.
4/1/2 - This schedule allows one
parent to care for the children for four days, then the children stay
overnight with the other parent. The children then go back to the
care of the first parent for two days. The parents then switch. This
schedule is good if parents live in close proximity to each other.
Alternating weeks or every other
week - This is a very simple schedule. Each parent alternates caring
for the children weekly or bi-weekly. This schedule is more
consistent and stable for the children as there is less changing back
and forth.
Splitting weeks in half – Parents
can choose to split each week equally in half. This schedule, like
the 2/2/5/5 and 3/3/4/4 schedules, requires a lot of splitting and
may work best if parents live close together.
Vacations, holidays and school
breaks - If parents live in separate school districts or in different
states, this is schedule may work well. This schedule allows one
parent to care for the children during the regular school year. The
other parent cares for the children during school breaks, on holidays
and on vacations.
Making a 50/50 child custody schedule
is essential to making your joint custody agreement work most
effectively. It is wise to keep track of the actual time spent with
your children to ensure that your custody schedule is working and to
decide if changes need to be made to the schedule. Be a good parent
by using an effective 50/50 schedule.
Tracy Bensun is interested in the law and especially family law. Her main interest lies in how children are affected by divorce and child custody. She has done extensive research on her own and loves to share her knowledge. She is affiliated with Custody X Change, which is a software program designed to assist in child custody visitation schedules, custody agreements and parenting plans.
