March brings the first buds of Spring that hint at the warmer weather to come, shifting our thoughts to organizing summer plans. The end of March also means the deadline to select summer parenting time schedules is almost here.
What This Means for Parents & Children
Following the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, the non-custodial parent selects the summer vacation schedule, and has until April 1st to notify the custodial parent. If the non-custodial parent fails to notify by the deadline, the custodial parent will then get to make the selection. It’s important to be sure to notify the other parent both verbally and in writing.
Each parent is entitled to one-half of summer vacation with their children, beginning the day after school lets out and ending the day before school resumes. The time spent may either be consecutive, or split into two segments. Both parents should consider any employer-imposed restrictions on their vacation time when setting the schedule.
Unless it’s an extended out-of-town vacation, if a parent has more than two consecutive weeks scheduled with the child, the other parent will be allowed time with the child every other weekend and one evening during the week.
Summer Holidays
When selecting the summer schedule, don’t forget to take into consideration the other parent’s summer holidays. For 2017, the custodial parent has Memorial Day weekend (May 26 – May 29) and Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1 – Sept. 4) and the non-custodial parent has the Fourth of July (July 3 – July 5). You also need to accommodate for “special days”, including Mother’s Day (May 12 – May 14), Father’s Day (June 16 – June 18), and birthdays.
The World Doesn’t Stop
When summer returns, it doesn’t necessarily mean school is out. If your child attends summer school, the parent exercising parenting time will be responsible for the child’s transportation to and from school. Summer parenting time does take precedence over summer activities, when parenting time can’t be reasonably scheduled around such events. All effort should be made to get your child to and from activities, particularly if you reside in the same town. If distance is a factor, the non-custodial parent may enroll a child in a similar activity in his or her own community.
Remember: While both you and the other parent are free to come up with a creative schedule tailored to meet your individual families’ needs, it may not be enforceable with the court, should the other parent back out of the agreement.
If you have questions about your parenting time schedule and the upcoming April 1 deadline, please contact Abigayle Hensley at 765-742-9066 for more information specific to your family.
Disclaimer:
The content of this blog is intended to be general and informational in nature. It is advertising material and is not intended to be, nor is it, legal advice to or for any particular person, case, or circumstance. Each situation is different, and you should consult an attorney if you have any questions about your situation.
