Standard Florida Visitation Schedules

Ending a marriage is always complicated, but it tends to be even more so when the couple in question shares children. For the kids, a divorce can feel like the end of the world and the breakup of the family. There are ways, however, to ensure that children continue to feel loved and still have adequate time with both of their parents. The kind of custody arrangement that a family utilizes will depend in large part on their particular circumstances, but many work from a few standard visitation formats.

2-2-3 Visitation Schedule

 All families are unique, so there isn’t really a standard, one-size-fits-all visitation schedule. Still, some judges, when parents are unable to reach an agreement, institute one of a few specific schedules. The first of these is known as the 2-2-3 schedule and involves a child spending an equal amount of time with both parents. According to this schedule, one parent will spend two consecutive days with a child and then the other parent will spend the next two days with the child. The first parent then gets to spend three days with the child, while the following week, this will be reversed, so that the second parent has three consecutive days with the child.

2-2-5-5 Visitation Schedule 

The 2-2-5-5 schedule gives each parent two days with the child, followed by five consecutive days each. There are a lot of benefits to using a 2-2-5-5 schedule. For instance, it allows a child to spend time with both parents during the week and the child doesn’t have to go long periods of time without seeing either party. It’s also a consistent and relatively simple schedule to remember, so there is little room for misunderstanding or confusion. While this schedule can work for many families, it is especially popular amongst those who share younger children who aren’t yet in school and for those with non-traditional work schedules.

3-4-4-3 Visitation Schedule 

The 3-4-4-3 schedule involves a child spending three days with one parent, four days with the second parent, then four days with the first parent and another three days with the second parent. There are also benefits to this type of schedule. There are, for example, relatively few exchanges between parents, both of whom also have the opportunity to help with caretaking tasks on a day-to-day basis. These schedules can also be comforting and stabilizing for the child, as parents will have custody of their child during the same nights each week (except for one night that will switch). The 3-4-4-3 schedule tends to work well for parents with very different work schedules.

Our Largo Child Custody Attorneys Can Help 

Ultimately, the visitation schedule that a family creates will depend on their specific circumstances, including the needs of their child. At Cairns Law, our experienced Largo child custody lawyers can help ensure that any parenting plan and visitation schedule implemented in your case is in your family’s best interests. Call us at 727-683-1472 to get started.

Sources: 

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html 

fljud13.org/Portals/0/flag/pdf/Visitation%20-%20rotating%20Schedule.pdf