Ogden Family Lawyers
Parent-time is usually a hotly contested issue between parties. We will ensure the court knows of your involvement with your children, the important role you play in your children’s lives, and your ability to fulfill your parental responsibilities in a way that meets your children’s unique needs.
In Utah, parents of the children can come to an agreement specifying the parent-time (or visitation arrangements) that each parent will have with the children. If the parents cannot agree on parent-time, the court will set a parent-time schedule that is tailored to the individual needs of the children and the parents in the case. Utah law provides two common types of parent-time arrangements, as detailed below.
Standard Minimum Parent-Time Schedule (Utah Code 30-3-35)
Standard minimum parent-time means that one parent spends a large majority of time with the children, and the other parent is awarded the following visitation:
- Every Wednesday from 5:30pm – 8:30pm;
- Every other weekend from Friday at 6:00pm until Sunday at 7:00pm;
- Birthdays and every other major holiday; and
- Four weeks in the summer.
This is only a basic summary of parent-time as provided by Utah Code 30-3-35. If you want to more fully understand this type of parent-time schedule, you can explore the law here. Also, Utah law provides a different parent-time schedule for children under five years old–you can review that parent-time schedule here.
Joint Physical Custody Parent-Time Schedule (Utah Code 30-3-35.1)
In May of 2015, a new law was adopted in Utah. This new law awarded involved parents with more parent-time than what had been given in the past. This new parent-time schedule provides a parent with the following visitation:
- Every Wednesday from 5:30pm until Thursday morning when school starts;
- Every other weekend from Friday at 6:00pm until Monday when school starts;
- Birthdays and every other major holiday; and
- Four weeks in the summer.
This is only a basic summary of parent-time as provided by Utah Code 30-3-35.1. If you want to more fully understand this type of parent-time schedule, you can explore the law here.
50/50 Parent-time Schedule
A 50/50 schedule means that both parents have the children for the same amount of time. Utah doesn’t have a law that provides for a specific 50/50 parent-time schedule, but at Red Law, we have frequently created parent-time arrangements that accommodate parent’s work schedules and that provide minimal disruption to the children’s lives. Here are three simple 50/50 schedules.
- One week on, one week off schedule. This parent-time schedule provides that the children reside at one parent’s home for seven days and nights, and then the children reside at the other parent’s home for seven days and seven nights. Parents often exchange the children on Sunday evenings at around 8pm.
- 2-2-5 schedule. With this schedule Parent A would have every Monday and Tuesday, Parent B would have every Wednesday and Thursday, and the parties would rotate the weekends (Friday to Sunday).
Family Law Attorneys in Ogden
The Ogden UT family lawyers at Red Law Utah will work to help you create whatever kind of parent-time schedule fits your unique needs and schedule, and the unique needs of your children. We have the experience required to draft a parent-time schedule that is workable for everyone involved, will be approved by the court, and that protects your time with your children. Contact us today!