50/50 Child Custody Part One: Every 2 Days & 2-2-3

In recent years, joint physical custody (also called shared physical custody) has become popular because it allows both parents to have substantial involvement in their child's life. In particular, many parents like splitting time 50/50.

Parents commonly choose 50/50 custody when they reach an agreement, and it can also be ordered by a court following trial, if appropriate.

Our three-part series will walk you through schedule options for 50/50 custody. In this first part of our series, we'll discuss what 50/50 custody is and what's required to make it work, then take a look at two schedules: alternating every 2 days and 2-2-3.

What is 50/50 physical custody?

With 50/50 physical custody, each parent spends an equal amount of time with the child.

Since this arrangement requires a lot of cooperation between parents, judges won't approve it unless they believe it will work and is in the child's best interest. The court will want to see that:

• Parents can put their differences aside to work together for the benefit of their child.
• Parents can communicate effectively about exchanging the child, schedules and other important matters.
• Parents live near each other, the child's school or in the same general area.
• Parents are emotionally and physically stable and live in safe environments.

50/50 custody schedules

Alternating every 2 days schedule

With the alternating every 2 days schedule, parents exchange the child every two days.

This schedule allows the child to spend time with each parent throughout the week. Both parents are responsible for transporting the child to and from school and get time on the weekends. However, the frequent exchanges and constantly changing exchange days may make it difficult to settle into a routine.

2-2-3 schedule

The 2-2-3 schedule has your child spend two days with one parent, two days with the other parent and then three days with the first parent. The next week, it switches.

This schedule is easy to implement due to its predictable rotation. Parents alternate the same weekdays and have the child every other weekend. Many parents like this schedule because they see their child regularly and are a normal part of their life.

The biggest issue with this and the previous schedule is that the child changes homes multiple times a week. A child may struggle with frequent exchanges for different reasons — because they cause anxiety, make the child feel disconnected from both households, add extra difficulty to keeping up with school work, etc.

The easiest way to make a 50/50 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.

More 50/50 custody schedules

Part 2: Alternating Weeks & 2-2-5-5

Part 3: Two Weeks Each & 3-4-4-3