Parenting Time Schedules in Alaska (Visitation)
Parenting time schedules show divorced or separated parents when their child will live with or visit them.
A schedule is part of your required parenting plan. Each parent can propose a schedule, then let a judge decide which is best, or parents can agree on a schedule.
Things to consider when choosing a schedule
Tailor your schedule to your family's unique situation. Consider the following:
- Child's age
- Distance between parents' homes
- Who will transport the children
- Where exchanges will happen
- Who will pay for any travel necessary for visits
- Parents' work schedules
- School district calendars
- Safety concerns necessitating supervised visitation
Be aware that parenting time impacts child support, but don't choose a schedule based on this.
Schedule options
The state's parenting plan template gives you space to describe your schedule, or you can color in your days on the state's weekly scheduling chart.
To see your full schedule on a calendar, use Custody X Change instead. It offers schedule templates and the option to create your own schedule from scratch. You can import your schedule into your Custody X Change parenting plan, plus use the calendar for day-to-day scheduling.
Shared parenting
Shared parenting gives each parent at least 110 overnights in a year.
The alternating-weeks schedule has the child switch between homes once a week.
Try this with Custody X Change.
If you have an older child, you could let them stay in each home longer — for example, two weeks at a time.
For a younger child, you might opt for more exchanges during the week, like in the 3-4-4-3 schedule.
Primary parenting
Primary custody gives one parent over 70% of parenting time or at least 256 overnights a year. The other parent gets visitation, usually on weekends.
The most common reason for primary custody is significant distance between parents' homes.
The alternating-weekends schedule is an option.
To give the nonprimary parent more time, add a midweek visit…
…or let them have every weekend.
You could instead give the nonprimary parent three weekends in months that have five. This gives them a few more weekends each year than the alternating-weekends schedule.
Some Alaskan parents need to transport the child via plane or boat. If this is the case, there's usually a school-year parent and a parent who has a stretch of visitation during school breaks (more below).
Holidays and school breaks
Whether they have shared or primary custody, parents often alternate holidays. For example, if one parent gets Seward's Day this year, the other parent gets it next year.
Scheduling holidays to alternate annually is easy in Custody X Change.
Parents with shared custody generally split school breaks.
In primary custody situations, the nonprimary parent usually gets much of summer and winter breaks.
The nonprimary parent also frequently gets all of either Thanksgiving or spring break.
But you can divide holidays however you like if you reach an agreement.
The easiest way to make a schedule
If you're like most parents, creating a custody and visitation schedule will feel daunting. How do you write something that meets legal requirements and doesn't leave any loose ends?
The Custody X Change app makes it easy. Either customize a schedule template, or click and drag in your custody calendar to make a schedule from scratch.
Try this with Custody X Change.
Then watch a full description appear in your custom parenting plan.
Try this with Custody X Change.
The combination of a visual and written schedule means your family will have no problem knowing who has the child when. Take advantage of Custody X Change to make your schedule as clear and thorough as can be.