When
considering how time will be spent with the children, it is paramount to
consider their needs prior to considering the "wants" of
the parent. The parenting plan must be comprehensive to be
effective, addressing how and where the children will transition to
other spouse's home, potential parental relocations, and proximity to
preferred schools. Consideration as to the children's ages,
educational requirements, extracurricular activities, and parent work
and travel schedules should be used as a basic foundation in developing
a schedule.
When authoring
a schedule, it is often a good idea to consider changes that the
children will undergo. For example, a schedule that works well for
infants and toddlers may not work at all for a pre-teen or teenager.
However, nothing can better address changing circumstances better
than cooperative parents who choose to work together in
co-parenting their children.
Dual Residency
Models (Joint Physical Custody)
These models are
ideal for those parents who wish to have their children live with each
parent for extended periods of time or to divide their time
equally between two homes. Effective coordination, flexibility
of the parental work schedule, and the willingness to encounter the
other parent contribute to the success of these arrangements. When
school is not in session, transitions may be after the workday ends.
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model JP-1
Time split exactly 50/50 at all
times
14 overnights every
28 days
Time with each parent
3-6 days
Each parent has every other
weekend
All transitions done before/after
school
Some weeks have 3 transitions |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
B |
B |
A |
|
A |
B |
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
B |
B |
A |
|
A |
B |
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model JP-2
Time split 50/50
during 1 year
period
Time spilt 60/40,
swap after 6
months
Time with A – 4 nights
Time with B – 3 nights
Wednesday transition done at
school
Saturday transition at 6:00 pm |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
A |
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model JP-3
Time split exactly 50/50 at all
times
Monday transitions done at school
Each has 7 nights consecutively
All weeks have 1 transition
|
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
|
A |
|
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
|
A |
|
A |
A |
B |
B |
B |
B |
B |
|
B |
Primary Residency
Models
These models are
ideal for those parents who wish to designate one home as the primary
home in which the children live. Usually parent B will have an
extended summer time period for 2-6 weeks, depending on model and
personal schedule. When school is not in session, transitions may be
after the workday ends.
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model PR-1
Fri/Mon transitions done at
school
B has ALL weekends
Time approximately 60/40
B has 12 nights per
28 days
|
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
A |
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
A |
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
A |
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
A |
B |
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model PR-2
Fri/Mon transitions done at
school
A has 12 consecutive nights every
2 wks
B has every other weekend
B has 6 nights per 28 days
|
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
|
A |
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
B |
|
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
|
A |
|
SU |
M |
TU |
W |
TH |
F |
SA |
|
Model PR-3
Fri/Sun transitions done at
school/6 pm
A has 13 consecutive nights every
2 wks
B has every other weekend
B has 4 nights per 28 days
|
|
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
B |
|
B |
|
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
