Quick Answer: Review your current parenting-time order, then create a full-year calendar showing regular weekends, holidays, birthdays, school breaks, and summer parenting time. Reviewing the schedule early can help parents identify conflicts before important dates arrive.
Review Your Parenting-Time Order First
Start with the current court order. It may follow the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, include a customized schedule, or contain terms that differ from the standard Guidelines.
Look for provisions covering:
- Regular parenting time
- Holidays and special days
- School breaks
- Summer parenting time
- Exchange times and locations
- Vacation notices or selection deadlines
The court order controls the parenting schedule. A planning calendar can help both parents understand that schedule, but it does not replace or formally change the order.
Choose a Full-Year Calendar
Use a printed or digital calendar that covers the entire year and is easy for both parents to review. A shared digital calendar may be convenient, but a printable calendar can also work well.
Use clear labels or separate colors for each parent. Keep the calendar focused on parenting time, school dates, exchanges, and other information directly related to the child’s schedule.
Add Holidays and Special Days
Enter holidays and special days before adding the regular parenting schedule. Holiday parenting time may replace or interrupt an otherwise scheduled weekend.
Review the order carefully for:
- Odd-year and even-year assignments
- Holiday start and end times
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
- Each parent’s birthday
- The child’s birthday
- School vacation periods
Do not assume the same parent receives a holiday every year. Many holiday schedules alternate annually.
Add Regular Parenting Time
Next, add the regular schedule required by the order. This may include alternating weekends, weekday evenings, midweek overnights, or another arrangement.
Work through the year one month at a time. Check each regular parenting period against holidays and school breaks so the calendar does not show conflicting dates.
Add the School Calendar
Use the official calendar published by the child’s school or district. Add the dates that affect parenting time, including:
- First and last days of school
- Fall, winter, and spring breaks
- School holidays
- Teacher workdays
- Early dismissals when relevant
Some parenting periods may begin when school dismisses or end when school resumes. Review the wording of the order rather than relying only on the dates printed on a general calendar.
Update the parenting-time calendar if the school later changes its schedule.
Plan for Summer Parenting Time
Review the court order and applicable Guidelines for summer-selection procedures, notice dates, vacation periods, and other requirements.
Mark the last day of the current school year and the first day of the next one. Add known camps, programs, vacations, and important family events that may affect summer planning.
When summer dates have not yet been selected, leave space for them and note any applicable selection or notice deadline. Keep a written record of proposed dates and related communications.
Parents should avoid making nonrefundable travel plans until the summer schedule has been confirmed.
Review the Completed Calendar
Once the calendar is drafted, both parents should compare it with the court order and official school schedule.
Check for:
- Incorrect holiday assignments
- Overlapping parenting periods
- Missing birthdays or school breaks
- Unclear exchanges
- Unconfirmed summer dates
If both parents agree that the calendar accurately reflects the order, each parent can save a copy. They may also sign or initial the calendar to confirm that it was reviewed.
Signing a planning calendar does not necessarily modify the existing court order. Parents seeking a lasting change should ask an Indiana family law attorney whether court approval is needed.
What Should Parents Do When They Disagree?
Identify the exact date or part of the order causing the disagreement. Compare the proposed calendar with the written order and the official school schedule.
Discuss the issue calmly and propose a specific solution. Make clear whether the proposed change applies only once or is intended to continue in future years.
Put any temporary agreement in writing. Include the dates being changed, the revised exchange details, and whether make-up parenting time is included.
When parents cannot resolve the issue, they may need help from an attorney or mediator. A Guardian ad Litem may be relevant in some cases, but a GAL is not a general scheduling mediator and should only be involved when consistent with the appointment and circumstances of the case.
Indiana’s Parenting Time HelpLine also provides free legal information and education about the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Its attorneys cannot give case-specific legal advice or represent callers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Indiana family use the same parenting schedule?
No. Some court orders use the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, while others contain schedules designed for the family’s circumstances. Always begin with the current order.
Does holiday parenting time replace a regular weekend?
It may. The answer depends on the order and the applicable holiday provision. Review the listed start and end times as well as the regular schedule.
Can parents agree to switch parenting-time dates?
Parents may agree to a temporary change when permitted by their order. Put the agreement in writing and identify the exact dates being exchanged.
What if the parenting-time order is unclear?
Read the exact provision and compare it with the applicable Guidelines. When parents reach different interpretations, an Indiana family law attorney can explain the available options.
Does a signed calendar change the court order?
Not automatically. A calendar can document the schedule the parents intend to follow, but a permanent legal modification may require court approval.
Get Help With an Indiana Parenting-Time Schedule
Dennis, Wenger & Abrell assists Indiana parents with custody and parenting-time matters. Contact the firm to have your current order reviewed or to discuss an unresolved scheduling disagreement before an important holiday, school break, or summer deadline.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Parenting-time rights and responsibilities depend on the court order, the facts of the case, and the applicable Indiana rules.