Every child custody case will have a parenting plan that details the schedule each parent may enjoy parenting time with their child. The schedule is commonly broken into three categories: regular parenting time, vacation parenting time, and holiday parenting time. The parenting time schedule can be highly detailed or vague and ambiguous. The schedule can be rigid and inflexible or fluid and dynamic. A skilled family law attorney does not apply a one-size-fits all schedule to meet your family’s needs. Instead, the attorney will seek to meet the individuals involved in your child’s life and to understand the roles they play in order to better develop a parenting time schedule that is in your child’s best interests.
Regular Parenting Time
Because involvement by both parents in a child’s life enhances security and creates a safety net for your child, the courts will actively encourage involvement by both parents whenever possible. A Common Parenting Plan should focus on ensuring the children have quality time with each parent.
Unique Summer Schedule or the same schedule for the entire year?...
Week on / off
5-2-2-5
One parent every M and Tu, the other every W and Th, then the F/S/Su block rotates between the parents every other week
3-4-4-3
Alternating blocks that change every week.
2-2-3
Alternating short term blocks that repeat biweekly
Every other weekend
In addition to Regular or common Parenting Time Schedules, Parents must make important decisions about how other types of Parenting Time will be handled throughout the calendar year. Some examples include:
During the Holidays, the Regular or common Parenting Time Schedule is often modified to allow parents and children to celebrate special holidays and to enjoy a special time with extended family members.
Summer Vacation and other school breaks are not only special periods for families when they can take vacations together, but also when other arrangements must be made for the children because they are out of school.
Not all parents live in the same city and as a result, creative scheduling is necessary to ensure that the non-primary parent enjoys substantial quality time with the child, usually during the child’s summer and holiday breaks from school.
Sometimes a Parent is struggling with challenges that potentially endanger the child and thus require some form of monitoring or supervision during the common Parenting Time to ensure for the child’s welfare. Additionally, counseling or therapy may form an element in the parenting time one or both parents exercise with their child. This will necessitate a specialized schedule to allow for visits to the therapist for family or individual therapy.
Colorado offers a method for immediate relief when a child is at imminent risk of physical or emotional harm by a parent. The court can act immediately to suspend all unsupervised with the parent allegedly putting the child at risk and place them under emergency child custody with a legal guardian.
As life changes, child custody orders may no longer fit your needs or circumstances. When this occurs, seeking a child custody modification can be necessary to officially change court orders related to parenting time and/or decision-making responsibilities.
Formerly known as child visitation, Parenting Time outlines the schedule and conditions under which each parent may see their children
