What are Some Options for 50/50 Timesharing and Coparenting?
The State of Florida recently changed the law, making it easier for fathers to get shared custody and 50/50 time-sharing schedules with their children. Under Florida law, there is a presumption that 50/50 time-sharing is in the best interests of the children. When courts make child custody decisions, they do so by determining the best interests of the child. This means that all custody decisions that are made are in the best interests of the child. So, unless your co-parent is very unfit, there is a good chance you will be splitting time evenly with your co-parent. In this article, the St. Petersburg, FL, family law attorneys at The Law Office of Kevin F. Coleman will discuss how parents can approach 50/50 time-sharing with their co-parent.
Alternating weeks
This is the most common 50/50 time-sharing arrangement. The parents simply alternate weeks. In other words, the child will spend one week with one parent and then the next week with the other. Pick-ups and drop-offs are generally scheduled on Friday afternoons, after school ends, and before the weekend.
Bi-weekly alternating weeks
Another arrangement that is quite popular is two weeks on, then two weeks off. This arrangement doubles the amount of uninterrupted time the child has with their parent. The children spend two weeks with one parent, and then the next two weeks are spent with the other parent on an alternating basis. Pick-ups and drop-offs are usually scheduled on Friday afternoons, after school.
The 3-4-4-3 schedule
This arrangement splits up the week between the two parents. The children will spend three days with one of their parents and then the next four days with the other parent. During the following week, the parent who had only 3 days would get 4 days, and the parent who had 4 days would get 3 days. To put it another way, the parents would alternate taking the children for 4 days bi-weekly. This option is generally used by parents who have young children.
The 2-2-5-5 schedule
This time-sharing schedule allows each parent to spend two days with their children, which is followed by a period of five days. Similar to the 3-4-4-3 schedule, it is a great option for parents with younger children. Each parent would get to see the children at some point during the week. This option also works for parents who live close together. This is because there are more drop-offs and pick-ups. It would be quite difficult for parents who lived far apart to manage.
The 2-2-3 schedule
This schedule would require the parents to alternate two days on and then two days off. After that, the child would get the next three days with the first parent. The next week, the schedule would reverse, allowing the child to see the other parent for three days.
Talk to a St. Petersburg, FL, Child Custody Lawyer Today
Need help hammering out a parenting plan? The Law Office of Kevin F. Coleman can help. Call our St. Petersburg family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your options right away.
