Schedules and co-parenting
Working out a parenting time schedule can be challenging. However, parents must decide how to divide co-parenting time. When devising a schedule they have to make arrangements for:
- Exchange times
- Weekday visits
- Weekend visits
- Holidays
- Children’s birthdays
- School breaks
- Summer breaks/vacations
How distance between residences factors into your parenting time schedule
The closer the parents live to each other, the more flexibility they have to work out a schedule for their children. Texas family law guidelines for standard possession (custody) offers two choices. One choice is the default option. The other choice is called the election option.
The non-custodial parent (the parent with visitation) can make a selection, and both parents can agree on it. When the parent with visitation does not select a time, then the default arrangement applies.
Examples of default options for parents living within 50 miles of each other
On the first, third and fifth Fridays of each month, pickup time is when school lets out for the weekend. Drop-off occurs at school when it resumes after the weekend. If a holiday extends the weekend through Monday, then drop-off time is at school at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. When a school holiday falls on Friday, the pick-up is when school lets out on Thursday.
For spring vacation during the even numbered years, the noncustodial parent would do pickup at the time school lets out for spring vacation. Drop-off would occur at 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes.
Examples of election options for parents living within 50 miles of each other
For weekends, the first, third and fifth Fridays of each month, pickup is Friday at 6:00 p.m. Drop-off is Sunday at 6:00 p.m. When a holiday extends the weekend to Monday, drop-off is at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. If a holiday on Friday extends weekend, Friday, pickup is at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. For spring vacation on even numbered years, pickup is at 6:00 p.m. on the day school lets out and drop-off is at 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes.
(More information is available at texasattorneygeneral.gov.)
Do you need help arranging a co-parenting schedule?
While some couples are able to agree on parenting schedules, others run into challenges. Attorney Lindsey J. Wilson can help you work out the schedule through mediation, a negotiated settlement or litigation.
The Law Office of Lindsey J. Wilson provides legal representation for clients in cases involving family law, custody and support, divorce, property division and modifications and enforcement.