Custody disputes and parenting time schedules are among the most contentious divorce issues. Even when one parent is awarded sole physical custody, Utah courts generally provide the other parent with a parenting time schedule so the child can maintain a relationship with both parents.
If you are currently navigating a parenting schedule, a South Jordan child custody lawyer from Brown Family Law can assist you. We have over 150 years of combined legal experience and can help negotiate agreements regarding all pre- and post-divorce matters.
Contact our offices today to speak to a child visitation lawyer in South Jordan.
How a South Jordan Family Lawyer Can Help With Parenting Time Issues
In most cases, noncustodial parents are granted parenting time, unless the court determines that doing so would not be in the child’s best interest. However, parents often disagree about how much time is warranted. A South Jordan family lawyer can represent your rights and interests during these disputes, helping you achieve the desired outcome in your case.
At Brown Family Law, we have extensive experience helping divorced couples meet mutually beneficial agreements and litigating family matters in court.
We have served thousands of clients over our 15-years as a family law firm. Let us show you a better way to do a divorce.
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How Parenting Time Schedules Work in Utah
Parenting time schedules are typically created alongside custody and support agreements during a divorce. Schedules approved by the court are legally binding, and each parent must follow them or risk sanctions.
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Utah’s Minimum Parenting Time Laws
Utah Code Section 81-9-302 establishes the minimum parenting time that noncustodial parents are entitled to.
Parents may agree to a different parenting schedule than the statutory minimum, but the court must approve the arrangement as being in the child’s best interest. In the same vein, when parents can’t agree, the court will determine parenting time based on the child’s best interest, often using statutory minimum schedules as a guideline.
Minimum parenting times are determined primarily by the child’s age. Generally, non-custodial parents become entitled to more parenting time as the child gets older.
Five to 18 Years Old
For children ages five to 18 years old, the non-custodial parent gets parenting time every other weekend from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m. and at least one weekday between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Non-custodial parents also get at least two weeks of vacation parenting time with their children, and on days with no school, parenting time can begin at 9 a.m.
Parents may be granted more time if both are involved in the child’s life, or both parents can adequately manage parenting time with their jobs.
Under Five Years Old
For children under five years old, the minimum parenting times are as follows:
- Under five months: Three two-hour visits per week and two hours for holidays
- Five to nine months: Three three-hour visits per week and two hours per holiday
- Nine to 12 months: One eight-hour and one three-hour visit per week, with four hours on holidays
- 12 to 18 months: One eight-hour and one three-hour visit per week, one eight-hour visit on alternating weekends, one overnight visit, and eight hours for holidays
- 18 months to five years: Standard schedule, but with options for extended parenting time visits
Modifying Parenting Time Schedules
Parenting schedules are usually made near the beginning of the divorce and aren’t necessarily meant to be permanent.
Changing life circumstances can warrant modifying an existing parenting schedule, such as:
- Moving or relocation for work
- Substantial change in parents’ availability for parenting time
- The child’s needs have changed dramatically as they’ve aged
- Failures to follow the current plan
To change a schedule, a child visitation lawyer in South Jordan can file a petition for modification and attend a hearing with you. If you and your spouse agree on the changes, you can sign a stipulation agreement to ensure the changes are legally binding.
Mistakes to Avoid When Making Parenting Agreements
Below are some of the most common types of mistakes people make when creating and changing parenting time agreements:
- Relying on informal agreements rather than formal court-approved orders
- Not determining how to split holidays and vacations
- Assuming that minimum parenting times cannot be changed
- Leveraging parenting time for other divorce-related issues
- Failing to document parenting time
- Not specifying how transportation from one parent to another will work
A child visitation attorney in South Jordan can help you resolve these issues and avoid other common oversights that could impact parenting schedules.
Contact a South Jordan Child Visitation Attorney
Creating a parenting time schedule that works for both parents and that is in the child’s best interest can be difficult without proper legal representation.
Let the team at Brown Family Law be your advocate for family issues related to custody and parenting times. We know how to handle divorce matters strategically and can provide a smarter, less chaotic path that protects your and your family’s privacy, dignity, and reputations.
Contact our offices today to discuss your case with a South Jordan child visitation lawyer.
