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Creating the Perfect Temporary Visitation Schedule

In a perfect world, there would be no divorce. People would get married, have children, stay together forever, and sit out on a front porch swing watching their grandchildren playing in the yard.

In a perfect world, even if there was divorce, parents would be able to sit down together and draft the custody arrangements for their children. Their excellent communication skills and ability to compromise would enable them to create a custody agreement that fulfilled all of the needs of their children. There wouldn't be a need for divorce lawyers and going to court would be a minor inconvenience.

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Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. Half of marriages end in divorce, and many families are broken up. Chances are if a couple was able to communicate and compromise in the first place, they would not be ending their marriage.

When you file for divorce or custody of your child, you will be required to submit custody arrangements and a temporary visitation schedule to provide for the custody and care of your child until a custody order is finalized. A good way to make sure that you are looking out for the best interest of your child is to create a temporary custody agreement that is fair to both parents and the child.

Put your children before your feelings

Divorce is a difficult time for everyone involved, especially the children. Many children feel caught in the middle of their parents' chaos and some even blame themselves for causing the divorce.

Parents who truly care about their children will do everything they can in order to minimize the negative effects of the divorce. Good parents will be able to put their personal feelings aside and would not use their children as weapons to harm the other parent. They would not use the custody of their children as a method of financial extortion or deprivation.

Creating a temporary visitation schedule is your opportunity to prove to the court, your ex, and your child that you care about your child's needs and you want what is best for her. There are too many parents who charge into court with a vendetta against the other parent. They try to get sole custody of their child in order to hurt the other parent. What they fail to realize is that in trying to hurt the other parent, they are actually hurting their child.

Allow frequent contact with both parents

A good parent will realize that children need both parents in their lives. The old, generic, "every other weekend" visitation schedule is outdated and does not allow the child to spend enough time with the other parent.

An "every other weekend" visitation schedule forces children to have to wait two weeks in between "visits" with the other parent. Children should not have to feel like visitors in a parent's home. They should be able to have liberal contact with both parents and should be able to be raised by two parents.

If you wouldn't want to wait two weeks between visits with your child, why would you wish that upon the other parent? Your temporary visitation schedule should provide your child with frequent, ongoing contact with each of you.

The easiest way to make a schedule

The schedule you follow during your case may become your long-term schedule. For this reason, you should create your temporary schedule with the future in mind.

The Custody X Change app walks you through the process of building a schedule piece by piece so you can account for every possible situation present and future.

As a result, you get a written schedule and a visual calendar that meets 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.

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

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Explore examples of common schedules

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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

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