Washington, DC Custody Schedules

D.C. parents can agree on a custody schedule or let the judge decide. If the judge decides, parents can suggest schedules. No matter what, the schedule must be in the child's best interests.

Your custody schedule is part of a larger parenting plan.

What to consider when making a schedule

• Your child's age
• Your child's school and extracurricular schedules
• Parents' work schedules
• Visitation with grandparents and other people
• Your family traditions during holidays
• If supervised visitation or supervised exchanges are necessary

You should also be aware that your schedule may impact child support.

Common custody schedules

D.C. courts default to shared physical custody. Only if a parent is unfit or unavailable would they not have significant custody time with their child.

Parents in D.C. often have 50/50 schedules. The small size of the city makes it easy to exchange the child and for both parents to get the child to and from school.

Many parents go with an alternating-weeks schedule.

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Benefits of this schedule include:

• It's good for teenagers who don't want their school and social lives interrupted by constant exchanges.
• The child gets a long stay with each parent.

The 2-2-5-5 schedule is also common. Generally, Parent A gets weekdays one week, and Monday to Wednesday the next week.

Benefits of this schedule include:

• It's good for school-age children and teenagers as exchanges are frequent but not overwhelming.
• Each parent gets a long stay and a short stay.

The 3-4-4-3 schedule is another option.

Benefits of this schedule include:

• It's good for school-age children who need regular contact with parents without disrupting the school week.
• There's a set weekend parent.

Some parents opt for the 2-2-3 schedule.

Benefits of this schedule include:

• It's good for toddlers and preschoolers who need regular bonding time with both parents.
• Both parents get weekdays and weekends.

Holidays and school breaks

Most commonly, parents alternate each holiday annually. For instance, if you get Emancipation Day this year, they get it next year. You can alternate Inauguration Day every four years or every time it falls on a weekday.

Parents also usually alternate shorter school breaks, like spring break and Thanksgiving.

They generally split the two-week winter break in half. Parents alternate which part of the break they get every year.

Summer vacation is often split in half.

Some parents continue to follow their regular custody schedule but allow a week or two of vacation time for each parent.

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.

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Then watch a full description appear in your custom parenting plan.

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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.

Frequently asked questions

Can each of my children have a different schedule?

Yes, especially if there's an age gap between them. What works for a toddler might not work for a teenager. Custody X Change allows you to create a separate calendar for each child. However, most siblings follow the same schedule for simplicity and bonding.

When should I change the schedule?

It's time to change your schedule if:

• It's not working.
• It no longer suits your child.
• Your work schedule changes.
• A parent frequently misses visits.

Ideally, agree on a new schedule with the other parent and get the court's approval. Otherwise, ask the court to modify the schedule.