Which Parenting Time Schedule Might Be Best For Your Child?

Navigating a new family structure after divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when children are involved. One of the most important decisions New Jersey parents will make is choosing the right co-parenting schedule for their child or children. 

There are different types of child custody that may be right for each family, depending on the parents’ work schedules and the children’s needs. It is worth spending time thinking about how the co-parenting schedule will function into the future in order to make the right choice for the kids’ social development and emotional and physical health. 

Below, we break down common co-parenting schedules, how New Jersey custody laws play into these decisions, and what factors attorneys and parents often consider when building a parenting plan during divorce.

 

What Is a Parenting Time Schedule? 

A parenting time schedule is the structure that determines when a child resides with each parent. These schedules vary widely based on the child’s needs, the parents’ work demands, and other logistical realities. 

During the divorce settlement, parents and their respective divorce attorneys create a parenting plan. This formal document sets out a custody schedule and a framework for how the parents will work together to raise the children, including sharing time and expenses and making joint decisions for the kids. 

 

Physical vs. Legal Custody in New Jersey 

New Jersey child custody is not one-size-fits-all. Parents and their family law attorneys can work together to develop a plan based on their child’s best interests. A parenting plan should be practical, reasonable, and achievable, designed for success rather than failure. 

Legal custody and physical custody are separate issues that parents need to consider. 

• Physical custody addresses where the child will live and how much time the child will spend there. 

• Legal custody concerns the right to make decisions about how a child will be raised, educated, cared for, and provided medical treatment. 

Joint legal custody is very common in New Jersey. Even when one parent provides the primary home for the children, both parents can still actively participate in their children’s lives. While the parent with physical custody is responsible for daily decision-making, both parents must consult about major issues such as education and health care. Both parents are expected to always put the best interests of the child or children first.

 

Common Custody Arrangements in New Jersey 

Because every family functions differently, NJ custody orders may look different, too. 

Primary residential custody with parenting time 

When parents cannot live in the same town or city, or when work schedules make shared physical custody impossible, a parenting time schedule may include the child living permanently with one parent. 

Both parents fully intend to stay active in their children’s lives, but the family’s structure and situation make it sensible for the child to live more with one parent than the other.  

Sole legal and physical custody 

On the other hand, sole legal and physical custody for one parent is most common when the other parent is absent or considered unfit. This may also be the case in divorces with a history of child neglect, complaints to child protection authorities, or is a danger to the child. 

Here, one parent is the residential custodial parent but also has full authority over major decisions about the children’s welfare, including education, upbringing, and health care. Sole custody is extremely rare, with more parents committed to playing an active role in their children’s lives. 

Shared legal and physical custody 

With shared legal and physical custody, both parents share not only the legal authority to oversee their children’s upbringing but also the day-to-day work of parenting. This represents a more equal division of parenting time. It ensures neither parent feels like a “visitor” in their child’s life. 

While the specific schedule chosen by each family may vary, it generally includes the child spending roughly the same amount of time at each parent’s home. This is often a good choice when the child is close to both parents and when the parents live near enough to one another that frequent custody exchanges are feasible and non-disruptive. 

 

Common Co-Parenting Schedules 

Even when both parents are committed to shared custody, deciding on the right parent time schedule can be challenging. There are options for you and your divorce lawyer to consider as you negotiate a parenting plan with your spouse. 

50/50 Parent Time Schedules 

Parents choosing shared custody generally want to achieve as close to a 50/50 time split as possible. At the same time, it is important to consider how a schedule will affect children’s extracurricular activities, academic needs, and social life. 

A 50/50 schedule helps kids feel secure, knowing that both parents are fully involved, and keeps them close and engaged with both parents. 

Common 50/50 schedules include: 

• A 2-2-5 schedule, where kids spend two days, two days, and three days with each parent in a rotating schedule. The weeks rotate so that each parent has some weeks with a larger amount of parenting time. 

• A 2-2-3 schedule, where the parents alternate the days on a weekly basis and alternate weekends. 

Other Parenting Time Schedules 

Work schedules and other obligations may make it difficult to achieve a 50/50 split, even when both parents intend to remain fully active in a child’s life. These scheduling issues may not have presented a challenge when both parents shared one home, but they can be more difficult in two homes. 

Some alternatives to the 50/50 options above include: 

• 4-3 Schedule: One parent has the child for four days and the other for three days, essentially a long weekend, every week. This schedule works well when work responsibilities prevent one parent from being fully present during the workweek. 

• 5-2 Schedule: One parent covers the five-day workweek, while the other takes every weekend. This approach provides stability during school but still creates meaningful bonding time for the weekend parent. 

• Every-Other-Weekend Schedule: In situations where parents live farther apart, have inflexible work shifts, or struggle with frequent transitions, an every-other-weekend plan may be considered. Extended weekends (three or four days) are sometimes included to increase meaningful parenting time. 

Regardless of the parenting time plan they choose, parents can work together with their divorce attorneys to find a schedule that best shows their love and commitment to their children. 

 

Choosing the Right Co-Parenting Schedule for Your Family 

The “best” parenting time schedule is the one that puts your child first. Factors New Jersey parents often consider include: 

• Children’s ages and developmental needs 

• School, sports, and extracurricular schedules 

• Distance between households 

• Parents’ working hours or travel schedules 

• Childcare availability 

• Health or special education considerations 

• Ability to communicate effectively 

• The child’s social life and friendships 

Younger children often benefit from shorter, more frequent transitions because they help maintain attachment and routine. Teenagers, on the other hand, may prefer fewer transitions and more predictable blocks of time. 

While reaching a 50/50 schedule may seem ideal in theory, many families ultimately choose a different plan because it simply works better for the child. 

 

Consult a New Jersey Divorce Lawyer for Child Custody Guidance 

If you are thinking about how to handle child custody and parenting plans during your divorce, a family law attorney may provide guidance for you throughout the process. Co-parenting schedules do not have to be one-size-fits-all, and the law allows families to design arrangements that truly support their children. 

Contact the experienced attorneys at Lawrence Law by calling 908-645-1000 or using our convenient, easy online form for a consultation at our Watchung or Red Bank, New Jersey, office.