Alternating-Weekends Visitation Schedules: 5 Examples

The alternating-weekends custody schedule is an 80/20 schedule. Your child lives primarily with one parent and visits the other parent every other weekend. It's also called the every-other-weekend schedule.

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Examples of alternating-weekends schedules

There are many ways to modify the alternating-weekends schedule so it works better for your family. Here are some example schedules.

Change the weekend times

You can choose the exchanges times for your schedule. This schedule has exchanges Friday night at 7 p.m. and Monday at noon.

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Change the weekend days

You can have the weekend start and stop on any day. This schedule moves the weekend visit to Saturday afternoon through Tuesday morning.

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Add a midweek visit

Add midweek visits to give the noncustodial parent more time. Here, there's a Wednesday afternoon visit every other week. You can include midweek visits as frequently as you want.

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Add an overnight visit

Another option is adding overnight visits. This schedule includes a Thursday overnight every other week. If you want to maintain the 80/20 timesplit, you could shorten the weekend visit.

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Use third-party time

This schedule includes third-party time to show when neither parent has the child. Adding third-party time can change the parenting time percentages, often making them more even.

You can customize this with Custody X Change.

Calculate your time

A visitation timeshare calculator shows you how much parenting time each parent has. Use it to help you reach the timeshare you want.

Pros and cons of an alternating-weekends schedule

Pros:

  • It works well for a child who needs to have one home during the week and a very consistent agenda.
  • There are limited exchanges, which makes life easier if parents live far apart.
  • The infrequent exchanges can also help prevent conflict.
  • This schedule can work well for a parent who travels frequently or is particularly busy during the week.
  • It can work around employment schedules that change weekdays.

Cons:

  • The child goes a long time without seeing one parent.
  • There may be conflict over the schedule because one parent has so much more time with the child.
  • The parent who has 20% of time misses out on the weekday routine with the child.
  • The parent who has 20% of time may not be as involved in the child's schoolwork or other activities.
  • This schedule may conflict with the child's weekend activities.

Other co-parenting schedules to consider

1-3-5-weekends schedule: This schedule gives the noncustodial parent up to a few extra weekends a year. (When a month has five weekends, they get two weekends in a row: the fifth weekend, plus the first weekend of the following month.)

Every-third-weekend schedule: You might prefer fewer exchanges if the noncustodial parent lives far away.

Every-weekend schedule: The child would get to see the noncustodial parent every weekend.

The easiest way to make an alternating-weekends schedule

There's a lot to think about when you build a parenting time schedule. You'll want it to address holidays and school breaks, give the right amount of time to each parent, and work for years to come.

The Custody X Change app makes it easy. Just follow the steps to make a custody schedule.

On Step 2, select the "every other weekend" button.

Then, on Step 3, define when the weekend visit starts and ends.

You can customize this with Custody X Change.

For an 80/20 timesplit, the weekend parent should spend about 67 hours with the kids in each two-week period. You can also adjust the timesplit using summer break and holiday schedules.

To make a custody schedule quickly and affordably, turn to Custody X Change. You'll get a written schedule and a visual calendar that meet your family's needs, as well as court standards.

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Six reasons to use Custody X Change

1. Organize your evidence

Track your expenses, journal what happens, and record actual time.

2. Co-parent civilly

Our private messaging system detects hostile language.

3. Get accurate calculations

No more estimating. Our automatic calculations remove the guesswork.

4. Succeed by negotiating

Our detailed visuals and plans make it easier to reach consensus.

5. Never miss an event

Get notifications and reminders for all exchanges and activities.

6. Save on legal fees

Our templates walk you through each step to reduce billable time.

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