Between work, school and extracurricular activities, it’s common for parents and children to have busy calendars. When family members don’t all live in the same household, parenting time must be scheduled to achieve a fair balance. The Michigan State Court Administrator’s Office recently published parenting time guidelines meant to assist parents with creating schedules that are best for them and their children. The manual provides useful guidance for parents negotiating parenting plans.
Parenting plans are not “one size fits all.” Every family is unique and each child has different needs. An effective plan should allow both parents the opportunity to spend quality time with their child and to be actively involved in their lives. It should include parenting time schedules as well as cover communication, transportation and other details.
When parents create a parenting time schedule, Michigan guidelines specify that the following factors should be considered:
Most of the parenting time guidelines in the new manual are meant for parents who can cooperate with each other. It’s best for parents to work out a parenting time plan without family court intervention whenever possible. However, if the parents cannot reach an agreement or if there are safety issues involved, a judge will decide on a time schedule based on what is in the best interests of the child.
Dawson Family Law, PLLC has extensive experience handling a full range of family law matters for clients throughout Michigan. Call 833-671-4445 or contact me online to schedule a consultation at my Sterling Heights office.