Saskatchewan Custody and Access Schedules
You can create your own custody and access 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, calendars, and professional parenting plan documents. Use the free download to see how it can help you.
You can also 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
One of the most important things for divorced or separating parents in Saskatchewan to figure out is how they will continue to provide and care for their children once they are no longer together.
Many parents decide to make a custody agreement or parenting plan that spells out each parent's duties and obligations concerning the children. A parenting plan contains all of the rules and guidelines you and your ex will have to follow as you raise your child apart.
A big section of the parenting plan is a custody and access schedule that shows the parenting time that each parent will have with the child.
Because the schedule is such a large part of the agreement, you want to make sure that the schedule is the best one for your child and for your situation.
The Saskatchewan Children's Law of 1997 contains the rules and regulations about child custody for the province.
Within this law, parents can find good information about how to make a custody and access schedule that the court will approve. In particular, this law can help you make a schedule that really works for your child and your circumstances.
Part II of the Saskatchewan Children's Law specifies that all custody decisions must be made according to what is best for the child.
This means that your custody and access schedule should be determined by your child's needs and what is best for your child's welfare.
The law provides a list of factors that the court considers when deciding what is best for a child. You should also consider these factors when making your schedule.
Here are some of the factors Quebec considers to determine the child's best interests and some ways they could affect how your make a schedule:
- The quality of the relationship between the child and each parent. If one parent has been the primary caretaker of a child than the child will probably live with that parent and have access with the other parent. If a parent has been absent from a child's life, the schedule should give that parent limited access and increase the access as the relationship between the parent and child grows.
- The personality, character, and emotional needs of the child. Some children do well with frequent transitions between parents' homes and other children do not. You need to base your schedule on what will fit your child's personality and needs. When scheduling custody and access, you should also think about your child's school schedule and social needs.
- The physical, psychological, social, and economic needs of the child. If your child has specific physical needs (medical care), then you need to arrange your schedule so those needs can be met. You should also consider how well each parent can provide mentally and emotionally for the child.
- The capacity of each parent to act as legal custodian of the child. In Saskatchewan, the legal custodian of the child has personal guardianship of the child and provides care and upbringing to the child. In looking at the capacity of each parent to be a legal custodian of the child, you should consider the past roles that each parent has fulfilled and the commitment that each parent has to the child.
- The home environment offered by each parent. In looking at how to schedule parenting time, you need to consider the home environment of each parent. If one parent has a worrisome or poor home environment, you can consider scheduling access at a different location. Or, that parent may have limited access.
- The plans that each parent has for the future of the child. In deciding the custody and access schedule, you need to look at the future plans you have for your child. In doing so, you may want to change your schedule according to educational needs or other opportunities.
- The wishes of the child. Depending on the age and maturity of your child, you will want to consult your child about where your child wishes to live and when the child visits the other parent. You may not make your schedule exactly as your child wants, but it is important to find out the desires of your child so that your child will be satisfied with the schedule.
These are just a few things to think about in order to make your schedule work for your child. If you are able to put your child's needs first, you will have an easier time working with the other parent and implementing your schedule.
A complete custody and access schedule should include the following:
- An everyday or residential schedule that shows parenting time during the week and on the weekends.
- A schedule that shows where the child will be for special events like holidays, school breaks, vacations, birthdays, etc.
- Rules and provisions about making the schedule work such as a method for changing parenting time, a process for handling exchanges for access, rules about traveling with the children, etc.
Your completed schedule can then be attached to your parenting plan or custody agreement and the court can make it official.
Divorce and separation can be emotional times and it may be difficult to sit down and talk with the other parent but you should try to work out your schedule and custody plans with the other parent whenever possible.
It may help to keep and mind that your relationship with the other parent is not ending. It is just changing. You will be bonded together for the rest of your lives because you share a child so you might as well try to make the best of it.
If you are able to develop a parenting plan and custody schedule that you both agree on, it will be so much easier to follow the schedule since you created it.
If you and the other parent are unable to work out the custody arrangements, the court will intervene and set up a custody and access schedule for you. The schedule provided by the court might not what be what is best for your child's actual needs and circumstances.
Related articles:
- Saskatchewan Parenting Plans and Custody Agreements
- Creating Child Custody Schedules that Work
- How to Make Your Child Visitation Schedule
The top ten cities in Saskatchewan (by population, Statistics Canada) are: Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, North Battleford, Estevan, Weyburn, Lloydminster.