When a Michigan couple parts ways and has children, one of the most common issues for dispute is how the parental rights and parenting time will be allocated. The state has certain criteria that it uses to determine how this is handled. Parents often have different ideas as to what they prefer. A common period in which there are disagreements is when the children are off from school. The Michigan Parenting Time Guideline can be useful to help the parents come to a consensus in the best interests of the child and do so while trying to avoid acrimony.

The parenting time schedule for spring, summer and winter at times when the child is not in school has certain ways in which it will be allotted. For spring break, the parents will alternate when the child is with each. For example, the father will have the child in years that end in an even number; the mother will have the child in odd-numbered years. The child’s residence will determine when spring break will begin and the child will be transferred to the applicable parent’s custody. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. the last day of school prior to the break and go until 6:00 p.m. the day before school will resume.

For winter break (during Christmas), the odd number years will send the child to the father and the even number years to the mother. The child will be given to the parent at 6:00 p.m. on the last day of school prior to the break and remain until 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve when he or she will transfer to the other parent until 6:00 p.m. the day before school restarts. With summer break, the noncustodial parent will have the child from the first Friday after July 4 at 6:00 p.m. and will keep the child for four weeks when, on that Friday at 6:00 p.m., the child will return to the other parent. There will be weekend parenting time for the other parent beginning on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. and ending on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Obviously, these plans are a best-case scenario in which the parents are in relative agreement as to how the parenting plans are followed. In many cases, however, there are disagreements between the parents that can range from minor to major. Having legal assistance that is experienced in child custody and how the parenting plan is implemented can ensure that the child is protected. Calling an attorney is key when deciding on parenting plans and maintaining a relationship throughout the year.