1. Create the best schedule
for you and your kids.

2. Document your actual
parenting time.

3. Include important clauses
in your parenting plan.

4. End misunderstandings
with a visual calendar.

5. Calculate time and
overnight percentages.

6. Prepare for negotiation,
mediation and court.

7. Save money on legal
fees and court costs.

"I used Custody X Change during our negotiations for Summer and Holiday visitation.

"The software was very easy to use and provided useful calculations from the agreed schedule.

"That spared us from having to do the tedious task of counting days on a calendar.

"I would recommend this product to any parent who has to establish a custody schedule with another parent."

"I got the Custody X Change software so I could give my clients a printed Calendar.

"Also, in New Mexico, there can be a significant change in child support from 'Schedule A,' where one parent has responsibility for less than 35 percent of the time, and 'Schedule B,' where each party has responsibility for more than 35 percent of the time.

"On borderline cases, it is important to know the possible child support consequences of various options."

Iowa Custody and Visitation Schedules

How do I make my Iowa custody and visitation schedule?

You can create your own custody and visitation schedule (on your own or with the other parent) or you can work with an attorney or legal professional and have them create it. If you don't want to pay the high cost of an attorney, and want to easily make your own schedule, you can use the Custody X Change software.

Custody X Change is software that creates custody schedules and parenting plans. You make each part of your schedule, and then you can print your calendar and plan. Download a free 30-day trial and see how it can help you.

You can use Custody X Change to:

Explore options for your visitation schedule
Negotiate a schedule and agreement with the other parent
Show your attorney schedules that you like
Prepare sample schedules and plans for mediation
Make a schedule and plan to present in court

In Iowa, how can I use the custody laws to help me make my schedule?

When creating a child visitation schedule in the State of Iowa, it is important to be familiar with some of the laws of the state.

Understanding the State's family law statues will give you a better idea of what the courts expect and will enable you to create a child visitation schedule that not only complies with the expectations of the court, but meets the needs of your child, as well.

The family law statutes for the State of Iowa are found in Chapter 598 of the Iowa Code entitled Dissolution of Marriage and Domestic Relations.

The Iowa Code explains the different types of custody, what criteria the court uses to determine custody, and even provides grandparents and great grandparents the ability to seek visitation with the child through court action.

The Iowa Code can be a valuable resource when creating your child visitation schedule.

What are the various types of custody in the State of Iowa?

Prior to creating a child visitation schedule in the State of Iowa, it is important to decide what type of custody you each shall have so that the schedule can be written accordingly. There are a few different kinds of custody:

Physical custody (or physical care) involves where the child will live, and with whom.
Legal custody encompasses the rights and responsibilities of the parents.
Sole custody means one parent shall have the exclusive right to either legal custody, physical custody, or both.
Joint custody means the parents share legal custody of the child. They must share the responsibility of making decisions about the child's education, medical needs, religious upbringing, and other important aspects of the child's life. In most case, the courts prefer that the parents share joint custody.
Joint physical custody (or physical care) means the child lives with each of the parents (at different times) and may be awarded to both of the parents to share.
Primary physical custody may be awarded to one parent, even if they both have joint legal custody, and this means the child primarily lives with that parent.

The parents' rights and responsibilities are not diminished regardless of who has physical custody (Iowa Code §§ 598.41.5).

Even when the court awards joint physical custody to the parents, the court will usually designate one parent's home as the child's primary residence for legal purposes.

This does not designate that parent as being the "preferred parent" or as being superior over the other parent in any manner.

In Iowa, how does the type of custody affect the visitation schedule?

Once the specific custody labels have been applied, the child visitation schedule should be written in a manner that reflects the type of custody each of you shall have.

Typically, if only one of you has sole physical custody and the other is entitled to reasonable visitation, the schedule involves the non-custodial parent having the child every other weekend and one night per week.

If you have joint physical custody, you will probably share the time with your child in a more balanced manner, though the time with the child does not necessarily need to be divided equally.

Regardless of the type of custody, no schedule is set in stone. The child visitation schedule can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your child while accommodating your schedules in a manner that provides your child with the optimal amount of quality time with each of you.

In Iowa, who is responsible for creating the custody schedule?

The court prefers that you create your own schedule. If you are able to agree upon the custody arrangements and the child custody and visitation schedule, the court will typically adopt your parenting plan and make it a court order.

However, if you are unable to reach an agreement, you will be referred to a mediator to help you decide.

Should your attempt at mediation fail, the court will determine the custody of your child and provide each of you with a visitation schedule that you will be legally obliged to follow.

In Iowa, what does the court consider when making a custody decision?

The court accesses a variety of factors it considers to determine what is in the child's best interests (Iowa Code §§ 598.41.3). These factors include:

Assessing the parents as to their suitability to act as fit and proper parents
Any wishes the child may have as to a custodial preference
The history of care and involvement of each parent in the child's life both before and after the separation of the parents
All relevant information including several other determinants that are listed in the Iowa Code

What should be included in my Iowa child custody and visitation schedule?

Regardless of who writes the child visitation schedule, the schedule will need to contain three basic elements:

A regular parenting time schedule which will dictate when the child will spend time with each parent on a regular basis.
A holiday schedule that will divide up the holidays in a fair manner, allowing the child access to both parents on holidays. Most parents elect to rotate the holidays and alternate them each year, so that one parent will have the child on Christmas in even years, the other in odd years, etc.
A vacation schedule that allows the child to spend extended time with each parent during school breaks and other times of the year.

Although the court bases decisions in custody cases on what is best for the child, as parents you are the ones best suited to make such decisions, as you know your child and are able to determine what is best for him or her better than a stranger could.

Setting differences aside and working with the other parent to create a child visitation schedule written in the best interests of your child is always of greater benefit to the child than a schedule a judge would assign to your family.

The top fifteen cities in Iowa (by population, US Census Bureau, 2008) are: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Ames, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Cedar Falls, Marion, Bettendorf.