60/40 Custody Schedules: Extended Weekends & 4-3

A 60/40 child custody schedule has the child spend 60 percent of their time with one parent and 40 percent of their time with the other parent. The two most common 60/40 schedules are the every extended weekend schedule and the 4-3 schedule.

A brief overview of 60/40 custody

Splitting time with a child 50/50 isn't always possible, due to work or other scheduling conflicts. A 60/40 schedule allows both parents to spend significant time with their child while accounting for their circumstances.

For this arrangement to work, it's essential that parents get along and both live within a reasonable distance of their child's school and activities. Good communication between parents is also vital, as they'll need to discuss the child's needs, behavior and obligations regularly.

If the court awards you 40 percent of parenting time, it may not be the arrangement you were hoping for, but it's more time than many parents receive. For your child's sake, keep a positive attitude about the new situation and appreciate the time you get to spend with them.

Every extended weekend custody schedule

The every extended weekend custody schedule is a popular way for parents to divide time with their child. (There's also a 70/30 version of this schedule.)

Your child spends four weeknights with one parent and three weekend nights with the other parent, returning to the start parent Monday morning.

This schedule can work well for parents who don't live close enough to exchange their child during the week or don't want to interfere with the child's school and extracurricular schedules.

The biggest drawback of this schedule is that one parent has the child every weekend. However, the child can spend free time with the weekday parent during holidays and school breaks.

4-3 custody schedule

The 4-3 custody schedule is very similar to the every extended weekend schedule. One parent has the child for four nights of the week, and the other parent has the child for three. The most significant difference is that not all three nights fall during the weekend.

A big advantage of this schedule is that each parent gets part of the weekend. Because this schedule is more flexible, it requires greater cooperation and less physical distance between parents.

The easiest way to make a 60/40 schedule

Creating a schedule on your own can feel overwhelming. You have to be sure to use airtight legal language and can't omit any required information.

The Custody X Change app takes the guesswork out of the equation by helping you build a schedule piece by piece.

As a result, you get a written schedule and a visual calendar. They meet your family's needs, as well as the court's standards.

For quick, reliable and affordable help making a custody schedule, turn to Custody X Change.