28 expert articles on parenting plans & custody for US co-parents.
The 5-2 schedule gives one parent five fixed days a week and the other the same two — usually the weekend. Simple, stable, and often the right stepping stone. Here's how it works.
Seen '4+4+3' mentioned and wondered what it means? It's a rotating shared-care schedule built from four- and three-day blocks. Here's the calendar, who it suits, and its trade-offs.
The 3-3-4-4 schedule gives each parent the same weekdays every single week — the most predictable 50/50 rotation there is. Here's the calendar, the pros and cons, and who it actually suits.
There is no single best custody schedule — only the one that fits your child's age, your geography, and how well you and your co-parent cooperate. This complete guide helps you choose.
Seeing how a parenting plan is actually worded makes writing your own far easier. Here are 12 example clauses — schedule, holidays, communication, decisions, and more — to adapt.
50/50 custody means equal time, but it can be arranged in many different ways. Here are eight real schedules that all split time evenly — with calendars — so you can see what fits.
The right custody schedule changes as your child grows. What works for a toddler can frustrate a teenager. Here's how to match the arrangement to your child's developmental stage.
The 4-3 gives one parent a slight majority of time; the 3-4-4-3 alternates that edge to reach a true 50/50. Both offer a middle ground between short rotations and full weeks.
The most common arrangement in US family courts: one parent has primary residence and the other has alternating weekends, often with a weekday evening. Here's how it really works.
The 2-2-5-5 gives each parent the same two weekdays every week plus alternating five-day weekend blocks — combining the predictability parents want with the balance children need.
The simplest 50/50 schedule of all: one full week with each parent. It minimizes handovers and works beautifully for older children — but the week-long gap isn't right for everyone.
The 5-2-2-5 schedule gives children predictable weekdays at each home and longer, calmer blocks than a 2-2-3 — making it a favorite for school-age kids in 50/50 arrangements.
The 2-2-3 schedule is one of the most popular 50/50 arrangements for younger children because no child goes more than three days without seeing either parent. Here's exactly how it works.
The communication section of a parenting plan is one of the most under-written parts of most agreements.
Long-distance co-parenting can absolutely work. It takes a more intentional system than local co-parenting does.
One of the most important legal documents a separating family will ever create. Getting it right from the start saves enormous conflict and legal cost later.
Children under 3 have very different developmental needs than older children — and the parenting schedule needs to reflect those needs, not just adult convenience.
From shared calendars to messaging platforms, the right technology transforms chaotic co-parenting into something structured and manageable.
A well-structured written plan establishes the communication framework that determines whether two parents can raise their children cooperatively.
When both parents share equal time, organizing days, holidays, and special events requires careful planning. Balanced scheduling tools make it manageable.
Some of the most functional arrangements are built by parents who can barely be in the same room. What matters is agreeing on what your children need.
A parenting plan for an infant or toddler is fundamentally different from one for a school-age child. Here's what to build it around.
Holiday schedules are where most parenting agreements either work or fall apart. Here's how to build one that holds up year after year.
50/50 custody is now the fastest-growing custody arrangement in the United States. Here's how it works and whether it's right for your family.
Courts expect a detailed written plan, and without one, judges fill in the gaps — and the result may not reflect what either parent wants.
How do you split time fairly while keeping disruption to a minimum for your children? The right schedule depends on age, work, geography, and cooperation. Here's how to build one.
Done well, a parenting plan provides stability for your children, clarity for both parents, and a legal framework that courts can enforce.
One of the most consequential decisions in any US divorce or separation involving children.