For most parents who get divorced, the court typically rules that they must share physical custody of their children. Joint custody is the preferred arrangement these days, as it is often considered in the child’s best interests to maintain relationships with both parents.
This means that parents must establish a custody schedule for exchanges. There are many different ways to do this, but here are some common examples.
Exchanges every other week
One of the simplest arrangements is alternating weeks. The children live with their mother for one week and then with their father the following week. Provisions can also be made for special events, such as birthdays or holidays like Christmas, to ensure that both parents remain involved, even if it is not their designated week.
Midweek exchanges
Some parents choose to exchange custody multiple times throughout the week, especially if they live close to each other. One example is the 2-2-3 schedule, where one parent has custody for two days, the other parent has custody for the next two days, and then the children return to the first parent for the last three days, including the weekend. The following week, the parents switch roles, but both have custody at different points during the week.
Long-term exchanges
In cases where parents do not live close together, custody exchanges may be less frequent and more long-term. For example, a child may live with one parent during the school year because the other parent lives in a different state. Over the summer, the child may visit the other parent and then return when school starts again in the fall.
These are just a few examples, but every custody arrangement is unique. Parents should be well aware of their child custody rights and legal options at this time.