Visitation schedules can adapt to family needs

When parents in Michigan make the decision to divorce, they may wonder how they will handle time away from their children. When both parents are accustomed to sharing one home with their kids, adapting to a child custody and visitation schedule can be emotionally and logistically difficult. The logistical elements can be intensified when parents have work schedules that may conflict with a more traditional visitation plan. Parents’ employment can be critical for the well-being and support of the children, so developing creative plans that suit the needs of an individual family can be particularly important.

When one parent has primary child custody, the other parent has visitation time with their children. Adopting a visitation schedule as part of a parenting plan can be one of the most important steps toward establishing a co-parenting relationship after the divorce. One of the most common visitation schedules focuses on alternate weekends, in which the child spends every other weekend at the home of the non-custodial parent. While this schedule is popular for many reasons, it may not be the most suited to a particular family.

The traditional every-other-weekend schedule can work best for parents with a 9-to-5 work schedule. However, many other options are possible, especially when divorced parents live nearby one another and the children’s school. Some families may want to add a weeknight of visitation to the existing weekend plan. In other cases, it can make sense to focus visitation days during the week due to conflicting work or school activity schedules.

Divorce can be a challenging time for parents and their children. A divorcing parent may consult a family law attorney for provide counsel and representation around key divorce matters like child custody and asset division. A lawyer may advocate for their client and work to ensure that their relationship with their children is protected in the divorce settlement.