Section III. Parenting Time When Distance is a Major Factor
Effective January 1, 2022
Where there is a significant geographical distance between the parents, scheduling parenting time is fact sensitive and requires consideration of many factors which include: employment schedules, the costs and time of travel, the financial situation of each parent, the frequency of the parenting time and others.
1. General Rules Applicable.
The general rules regarding parenting time as set forth in Section 1 of these guidelines shall apply.
2. Parenting Time Schedule.
The parents shall make every effort to establish a reasonable parenting time schedule.
Commentary
When distance is a major factor, the following parenting time schedule may be helpful:
(A) Child Under 3 Years of Age. For a child under 3 years of age, the noncustodial parent shall have the option to exercise parenting time, in the community of the custodial parent, up to two five hour periods each week. The five hour period may occur on Saturday and Sunday on alternate weekends only.
(B) Child 3 and 4 Years of Age. For a child 3 and 4 years of age, up to six (6) one week segments annually, each separated by at least (6) weeks. Including the pickup and return of the child, no segment shall exceed eight (8) days.
(C) Child 5 Years of Age and Older. For a child 5 years of age and older who attends a school with a traditional school calendar, seven (7) weeks of the school summer vacation period and seven (7) days of the school winter vacation plus the entire spring break, including both weekends if applicable. Such parenting time, however, shall be arranged so that the custodial parent shall have religious holidays, if celebrated, in alternate years.
If the child attends a school with a year-round or balanced calendar, the noncustodial parent’s parenting time should be adjusted so that the noncustodial parent and child spend at least as much time together as they would under a traditional school calendar.
3. Priority of Summer Visitation.
Summer parenting time with the noncustodial parent shall take precedence over summer extracurricular activities (such as Little League, summer camp, etc.) when parenting time cannot be reasonably scheduled around such events.
4. Extended Parenting Time Notice.
The noncustodial parent shall give notice to the custodial parent of the selection by April 1 of each year. If such notice is not given, the custodial parent shall make the selection.
5. Special Notice of Availability.
When the noncustodial parent is in the area where the child resides, or when the child is in the area where the noncustodial parent resides, liberal parenting time shall be allowed. The parents shall provide notice to each other, as far in advance as possible, of such parenting opportunities.