Reasonable Rights of Parenting Time Policy

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Holiday and Parenting Time Policy

At times parents may be unable to agree on a reasonable parenting time schedule. When this occurs, the Court, through the Friend of the Court office, will become involved.

There is not one parenting time guideline or schedule that is utilized in every case. The appropriate parenting time schedule may be different for each case, should be individual for each family, and should take into consideration a number of factors, which are not limited to the following: 1) the nature of the Parties, the work schedules of the Parties, 3) the respective distance and traveling times between the homes of the Parties, 4) the relationship between the child(ren) and the Parties, 5) the special needs of the child(ren), and 6) whether the visiting parent has regularly exercised parenting time in the past  

The Eaton County Friend of the Court has found that an individual parenting time schedule created and embraced by the Parties generally is the most successful over time, is the least stressful for the Parties and the minor child(ren), usually most optimally facilitates the best interests of the minor child, and is usually least prone to lead to future parenting time complaints. Cooperation and mutual flexibility are usually the hallmarks for a positive, effective, and successful parenting time relationship.  

At times, a parenting time order may not be specific, and only a reference is made in the order to "reasonable rights" of parenting time.  When that occurs. generally the following guideline is what is inferred by "reasonable rights of parenting time. This is not to suggest that the guideline is "best" for your family, or that it is the only parenting time schedule used in Eaton County.

PARENTING SCHEDULE FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN TWO YEARS

1. Alternate weekends, Saturday 9:00 a.m. until Sunday 6:00 p.m.

2. Two weekday evenings each week for two hours with a return time no later than 8:00 p.m.

3. Alternate Holidays (See holiday section for specifics).

PARENTING TIME SCHEDULE FOR CHILDREN AGE TWO THROUGH COMPLETION OF KIINDERGARTEN

1. Alternate weekends from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Sunday

2. One weekday evening each week for two hours, with a return time no later than 8:00 p.m.

3. Alternate Holidays (see holiday section)

4. Four nonconsecutive weeks during the summer to be exercised as follows: the third week in June, the first and third weeks of July, and the second week of August with the exchange of the children to occur on Sundays at 6:00 p.m.

PARENTING TIME SCHEDULE FOR CHILDREN FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF KINDERGARTEN

1. Alternate weekends from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Sunday

2. One weekday evening each week from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Both parties may decide on more than one day per week if desired.

3. Extended parenting time:

Summer parenting time: One half of the summer break, to be exercised on alternate weeks with the exchange of the children to occur on Sundays at 6:00 p.m.. The parent that has parenting time on the weekend immediately following the last day of school shall have the first week of summer break.

4. Alternate holidays (see holiday section)

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

The following schedule applies to all children regardless of their age. The Holiday Schedule takes precedence over any other regular parenting time schedule and will at times force both parties to modify their regularly scheduled parenting time. If a Holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday should be spent with the parent who is supposed to have the child for that holiday.

Below is a chart that gives times that are to be followed for the Holidays, which are to be alternated each year:

1. Easter: Consists of the entire weekend from Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m.

2. July Fourth: shall be exercised from 9:00 a.m. on the Fourth until 6:00 p.m. the following day.

3. Halloween (age appropriate): If Halloween falls on a Friday or Saturday, this shall be exercised as an overnight from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. the following morning. If it falls on a Sunday through Thursday, this shall be exercised from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

4. Thanksgiving: shall be exercised from Wednesday when school recesses until the following Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

5. Christmas Vacation: This holiday begins at 6:00 p.m. the day school recesses for the holiday break until Christmas Day, at 10:00 a.m. The other parent would have Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m. until the day before school resumes at 6:00 p.m. including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

6. Memorial Day: Shall be exercised for the entire weekend from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Monday.

7. Labor Day: Shall be exercised for the entire weekend from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Monday.

8. Spring Break: Shall be exercised from 6:00 p.m. the day school recesses for the break until 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes.

Please review the chart below. This chart is designed to assist both parties keep track of who has the child for the Holidays:

                                                    Odd # Years    Even # Years

Children’s Birthdays                          Mom         Dad

Easter/Spring Break                          Dad           Mom

Memorial Day Weekend                    Mom          Dad

July Fourth                                          Dad            Mom

Labor Day                                            Mom          Dad

Halloween (age appropriate)          Dad            Mom

Thanksgiving                                       Mom          Dad

Christmas Eve-1st part of break     Dad            Mom

Christmas Day-2nd part of break    Mom          Dad

ADDITIONAL OBSERVED DAYS

1. Mother’s Day: Each year the Mother shall have Mother’s Day from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

2. Father’s Day: Each year the Father shall have Father’s Day from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

3. Children’s Birthday: If the Birthday falls during the week this will be exercised from the time the child is out of school until 8:00 p.m. and if the Birthday falls on a weekend it will be exercised from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Parenting Time Transportation

1. Unless other wise Ordered by the Court, both parties shall share equally 50/50 in transportation for parenting time. The noncustodial parent shall be responsible for picking up the minor children for parenting time and the custodial parent shall be responsible for picking up the minor children at the end of the parenting time.

2. Exceptions may be made to the above if the custodial parent moves, and as a result, the parties are separated by a significant distance (100 miles or more).

3. If necessary, due to work schedule conflicts, the visiting parent may select another properly licensed adult known to the children to provide transportation. Advanced notice must be provided to the other parent. Use caution selecting new spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc., as this may cause unnecessary problems.

Other

1. Parenting time must be exercised in a prompt manner. In the event of an emergency, a thirty (30) minute delay is allowed for picking up and returning the children. This should happen rarely.

2. If there are any problems with regards to parenting time the party experiencing the problems must submit a complaint in writing to the Friend of the Court office within 7 days of the alleged violation.

3. Each parent must provide a phone contact of where the children can be reached during parenting time.

4. Parents are encouraged to make arrangements to exchange parenting time to allow the children to attend special events and activities with other extended family members.