Parenting Time Guidelines and the Best Interest of the Child
All states decide parenting time and custody issues using some form of the best interest of the child standard. While the exact wording varies by jurisdiction, the core goal is the same: to create parenting arrangements that support a child’s safety, stability, and overall well-being.
To help promote consistency and reduce conflict, many states have adopted parenting time or visitation guidelines. These guidelines provide courts and parents with a commonly accepted starting point for parenting schedules and reflect arrangements that judges frequently approve in typical cases. In states without a formal statewide schedule, courts apply the best interest standard directly when parents are unable to agree.
Where parenting time guidelines exist, they often share common features. Many include different schedules based on a child’s age, with shorter and more frequent parenting time for infants or very young children, and longer blocks of time as children grow older and begin school. These schedules are designed to balance meaningful time with both parents while accounting for a child’s developmental needs.
In recent years, there has also been a clear national trend toward treating equal (50/50) physical custody and parenting time as consistent with a child’s best interests, particularly when both parents are fit and able to care for the child. Some states have adopted this approach through statutes or court rules, while others reflect it through judicial practice. Even where no formal presumption exists, shared parenting is increasingly viewed as a reasonable starting point.
That said, the guiding principle remains parental agreement. Courts generally approve the parenting plan the parents agree to and both sign. Judges are unlikely to reject an agreed upon schedule unless it provides very little or no parenting time to one parent without a clear, child-centered reason, or otherwise appears inconsistent with the child’s best interests.
The table below provides direct links to official statutes, court rules, or commonly used parenting time guideline resources for each state.
Parenting Time Guideline Links by State
Common Parenting Time Arrangements
Across nearly all U.S. states, courts commonly see a small set of familiar parenting time models. These include shared physical custody schedules such as 50/50 arrangements (for example, 2-2-3 schedules or alternating weeks), as well as primary physical custody with defined parenting time for the other parent. While these models are widely recognized, the specific structure and implementation can vary by state, county, and the needs of the child.
When parents are not using a true 50/50 schedule, a frequently used arrangement includes alternating weekends, one or two midweek visits or overnights (depending on distance and school schedules), shared holidays, and extended time during school breaks or summer vacation. Many guideline schedules also include age-based options for younger children, such as shorter but more frequent visits, with parenting time gradually increasing as the child gets older.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to follow my state’s guideline schedule?
Not necessarily. Guidelines are often a starting point. If both parents agree to a different schedule and it appears consistent with the child’s best interests, courts often approve the agreed plan.
What if we cannot agree on parenting time?
If parents cannot agree, the court will apply the best interest of the child standard. In states with guidelines, a judge may use those schedules as a baseline and adjust based on the child’s needs and the family’s circumstances.
Can parents agree to very limited parenting time for one parent?
Courts are generally cautious about plans that provide very little or no parenting time to one parent without a clear reason tied to the child’s best interests (such as safety concerns). If you have questions about how a specific situation may be handled, you may wish to consult a local attorney.
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