What is the "every other weekend" custody arrangement?
Alternating Weekend Joint Physical Custody Schedule
This arrangement is when one parent has the child(ren) every other weekend. The time periods may vary, though they are typically every weekend. This arrangement can be changed to fit the wishes of both parents. It is also possible to change the days and times to some extent. For example, if a parent has the children on Saturday until Sunday evening, that parent could have them from Friday afternoon through Sunday night instead.
While this wouldn't be ideal for most parents, it allows for the children to spend an extra night with the parent who has them on weekends. The same logic applies when changing the days; a parent might request to have the children on a Monday or Tuesday so they have them for an extra day during their two weeks rather than having them on Friday or Saturday and just having them off from school early.
Joint Custody Arrangement Schedule
The "every other weekend" custody arrangement is one of the most popular schedule options for divorced or separated parents. It's also referred to as "one-week-on, one-week-off." This arrangement gives each parent two guaranteed weekends per month with the child, and sometimes one weekday during the week.
Under this schedule, one parent has the child on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the other parent has the child on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The schedule flips at some point during the week—for example, on Wednesday morning or Thursday afternoon. In this way, each parent gets two weekends per month with no planning ahead of time.
Different Custody Arrangements
There are many different custody arrangements that you can set up for your children. Some of the most common are sole custody, joint custody, and split custody.
Sole Custody
Sole custody is when one parent has full legal rights to make all decisions regarding their children and their home. They have the right to make all healthcare decisions and choose where their kids go to school. This means that the other parent does not get any say in how their kids are raised. The only time joint custody applies is if the parents can't agree on something and need a judge's help to settle it, or if they're going through a divorce.
Joint Custody
Joint custody means that both parents have equal rights to make decisions regarding their children and home, but they each live in separate homes. In most cases, they appoint someone else to take care of their kids while they're at work so they don't have to hire a babysitter. The parents share parenting time equally. They also share responsibilities like taking kids to doctor's appointments and making sure they're enrolled in extracurricular activities. Each parent is equally responsible for paying for things like clothing, food, and other daily needs; however, the custodial parent pays child support. The noncustodial parent might have additional financial obligations
If you've been in a custody arrangement with your ex for a while, you know they're not as simple as they sound. You need to provide your child with everything they need—and you'll have to do most of the work. Even worse, you can't always trust your ex to be a good parent. In spite of these challenges, you can find help and support if you look for it.
If you have any questions, you can get a free consultation with Ascent Law LLC:
Ascent Law LLC:
8833 South Redwood RoadSuite C
West Jordan, UT 84088
(801) 676-5506
