If you and your spouse are going your separate ways, you and your children are likely anxious about how this major transition will play out. Thankfully, since the final custody arrangement may take months to finalize, crafting a temporary parenting time schedule can provide structure, minimize the risk of conflict and support your child’s stability during this uncertain period.
A temporary parenting time schedule is a short-term plan that outlines how parenting responsibilities will be divided while your divorce is pending. It addresses where your child will live, when they will spend time with each parent and how decisions will be made in the meantime. This agreement can be crafted amicably and finalized by each “side’s” legal team. If you and your co-parent can’t find a way to compromise, the court can step in and set up arrangements temporarily.
Primary considerations
The goal of a temporary schedule is to minimize disruption. It should prioritize consistency with school, activities and important relationships. In many cases, a common starting point is for a child to remain in the family home or with the primary caregiver while ensuring the other parent has regular, meaningful parenting time opportunities. Depending on your child’s age and your/your co-parent’s work schedules, a temporary plan may include switching back and forth on weeknights, weekends or alternating weeks.
As you don’t want to deal with any more stress than necessary, your plan should clearly state pickup and drop-off times, transportation responsibilities and how changes or emergencies will be handled. Including guidelines for holiday time, phone or video calls and parental communication can also help avoid misunderstandings and allow everyone to get on the same page.
While a temporary schedule is not permanent, it can potentially influence your final custody arrangement. Courts often view the success of a temporary plan as a sign of what works well for a child. Therefore, it’s important for each parent to follow the agreement in good faith and to consider what is and is not working in anticipation of negotiating or litigating a final arrangement.
