menu

Standard Custody Agreements

A standard custody agreement provides parents with basic rights and the accepted minimum amount of time with their child. A standard agreement typically gives one parent custody and the other parent visitation.

Different jurisdictions have different standard agreements. Check your state's custody agreement guidelines. Requirements may even vary by county, but the basic principles are very similar.

You can use the Custody X Change app to create a standard custody agreement, modify a standard agreement to meet your needs or create a completely customized agreement for your child.

Visualize your schedule. Get a written parenting plan. Calculate your parenting time.

Make My Parenting Plan Now

What should I include in my standard custody agreement?

A standard custody agreement should contain:

When you use Custody X Change to create an agreement, you can feel confident that you'll get a professional document with all the necessary information. You won't have to worry about leaving anything out because the app guides you through each parenting agreement category.

How is physical custody divided in a standard agreement?

A visitation schedule in a standard agreement typically has the child visit the noncustodial parent every other weekend from Friday evening until Sunday evening (an alternating weekends schedule). In some jurisdictions, the parent also sees the child for a few hours one evening during the week.

For any given holiday, each parent has the child in alternating years. However, the child spends Mother's Day with the mother and Father's Day with the father every year.

A standard custody agreement usually gives the noncustodial parent extra time with the child during school breaks. A noncustodial parent can expect to have the child for several weeks in the summer.

How fair is a standard visitation schedule to each parent?

The alternating weekends schedule is designed to give the child the minimum recommended amount of time with the noncustodial parent. Weekdays are often busy, so confining exchanges to weekends can simplify life. Rotating weekends between parents allows each parent to have free time with the child.

However, the schedule does not allow the noncustodial parent to participate in weekday activities like getting the child ready for school each morning or helping with homework each night.

Consider each parent's schedule preferences, and try to reach a compromise. You can use Custody X Change to present multiple schedule options.

No matter what, do not try to hurt the other parent by limiting their visitation time unnecessarily. Put your child's needs first.

Is a standard visitation schedule in my child's best interests?

The alternating weekend schedule doesn't work for every child. If your child is exceptionally close to the noncustodial parent, seeing that parent bi-weekly may be difficult for them.

Your visitation schedule and child custody agreement should mirror the needs of your child. You may need to write in supervised visits to protect them, if the noncustodial parent poses a threat to the child.

As parents, you know your child best. Work together to agree on a schedule, whether it's the standard visitation schedule or an alternative.

The easiest way to make a custody agreement

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

Use technology to take the guesswork out of the equation. The Custody X Change app walks you through each step of creating a comprehensive custody agreement.

The result is a professional document that demonstrates your competence as a parent and secures your child's future.

The easiest and most reliable way to make a custody agreement is with Custody X Change.

Visualize your schedule. Get a written parenting plan. Calculate your parenting time.

Make My Parenting Plan Now

Explore examples of common schedules

Explore common schedules

Join the 60,000+ other parents who have used our co-parenting tools

Organize your evidence

Track your expenses, journal what happens, and record actual time. Print organized, professional documents.

Co-parent civilly

Our parent-to-parent messaging system, which detects hostile language, lets you collaborate without the drama.

Get an accurate child support order

Child support is based on parenting time or overnights in most jurisdictions. Calculate time instead of estimating.

Succeed by negotiating

Explore options together with visual calendars and detailed parenting plans. Present alternatives and reach agreement.

Never forget an exchange or activity

Get push notifications and email reminders, sync with other calendar apps and share with the other parent.

Save up to $50,000 by avoiding court

Write your parenting agreement without lawyers. Our templates walk you through each step.

Make My Plan

Examples:

Schedules

Long distance schedules

Third party schedules

Holidays

Summer break

Parenting provisions

Scheduling:

How to make a schedule

Factors to consider

Parenting plans:

Making a parenting plan

Changing your plan

Interstate, long distance

Temporary plans

Guides by location:

Parenting plans

Scheduling guidelines

Child support calculators

Age guidelines:

Birth to 18 months

18 months to 3 years

3 to 5 years

5 to 13 years

13 to 18 years

Terminology:

Joint physical custody

Sole physical custody

Joint legal custody

Sole legal custody

Product features:

Software overview

Printable calendars

Parenting plan templates

Journal what happens

Expense sharing

Parenting time tracking

Calculate time & overnights

Ways to use:

Succeed by negotiating

Prepare for mediation

Get ready for court

x

Bring calm to co‑parenting. Agree on a schedule and plan. Be prepared with everything documented.

Make My Parenting Plan Now

No thanks, I don't need a parenting plan