How Is Parenting Time Determined in Michigan?

Key Takeaways

• Parenting time determines when a child spends time with each parent after divorce or separation in Michigan.
• Michigan courts base parenting time decisions on the child’s best interests, not parental preference.
• Common schedules include alternating weekends, 50/50 arrangements, and holiday rotations.
• Judges consider factors like the child’s age, emotional needs, distance between parents, and safety concerns.
• Parenting time orders can be modified if there is proper cause or a significant change in circumstances.
• A Michigan family law attorney can help parents request, negotiate, or modify a fair parenting time schedule.

“Parenting time” describes the timing and duration of visits a child has with each parent after a separation or divorce. It plays a key role in the child’s routine and in their ability to maintain strong relationships with both parents.

Courts use detailed legal standards and Michigan parenting time guidelines to set and approve schedules. These guidelines cover everything from common parenting time schedules to special considerations based on age, distance, and safety.

If you are feeling uncertain about what parenting time arrangement you can expect or how the court will respond to your situation, a child custody attorney from Kraayeveld Family Law can help. Our team can review your case, explain your options, and help you request a fair schedule.

Contact us online today or call us 24/7 at (616) 383-2679 to set up an initial consultation and learn more about how we can support you. Our office is conveniently located at 990 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Feel free to visit us for a case evaluation!

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What Is Standard Parenting Time in Michigan?

There is no single standard parenting time schedule, but the term comes up often in family court.

People usually use it to describe a common plan created by the local Friend of the Court. In many counties that may look like one parent having the child during the week, and the other having parenting time every other weekend, one weeknight visit, and alternating holidays. This type of schedule works well in many cases and many parents assume that this should be a starting point in the negotiations.

Still, courts do not automatically rubber-stamp any plan for parenting time. Judges look at each family’s unique situation before finalizing parenting time schedules.

Some families follow a week-on, week-off setup. Others use shorter visits spread across the week, especially if their kids are very young. What works for one family might not work for another, so judges remain flexible when setting the terms.

How Michigan Courts Decide Parenting Time

Judges decide parenting time based on what supports the child’s best interests, not just what the parents want. Michigan law (MCL 722.27a) lists several factors judges must weigh in these cases.

Parenting time factors in Michigan include:

Courts also look at how likely each parent is to follow the schedule and keep the other parent involved.

No single factor controls the outcome. Judges must balance all of them to determine what will allow the child to grow up in a stable and healthy environment. Judges can also consider anything else they find relevant. If the child is old enough, the judge may take the child’s preferences into account, too.

Most Commonly Used Parenting Time Schedules

When Michigan courts choose or approve a parenting time schedule, they make their decision based on what makes sense for the child’s age, needs, and family situation. The following examples reflect some common arrangements that appear in Michigan parenting time cases:

• Alternating weekends with one midweek visit – One parent has the child most of the time, while the other has parenting time every other weekend, usually from Friday evening to Sunday evening, and one weekday evening visit each week. Courts often use this plan when the child lives mostly with one parent, especially during the school year.
• Extended weekends every other week – Some plans build in a long weekend, where parenting time begins on Friday and extends through Monday morning drop-off. This gives the child an extra evening and morning and often works well when parents live close and can share school transportation. Sometimes this schedule can also include a midweek overnight with school drop off the next morning.
• Week-on, week-off setups – In a true 50/50 schedule, the child spends one week with one parent, then switches the next week. This plan works best when both parents are involved with school work, extracurricular activities and have similar routines.
• 2-3-3-2 rotations – The child spends two days with one parent (i.e., Monday and Tuesday), three days with the other (i.e., Wednesday through Friday), then three days with the first (i.e., Friday through Monday), and the next week the schedule switches. This setup keeps a short gap between visits and gives parents every other weekend with the children. Families with young children sometimes choose this option to reduce long absences from either parent.
• Holiday and break rotations – Holidays and school breaks often follow a separate plan. Parents typically alternate major holidays (like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July) and split longer breaks such as winter and spring vacations.
• Summer parenting time blocks – In cases where one parent lives far away, the court may award that parent a larger block of parenting time during summer break. That helps maintain a connection without requiring frequent travel during the school year.

How Custodial Status Affects Parenting Time

Custodial status matters, but it does not automatically determine parenting time. If one parent has sole physical custody, the child lives with that parent most of the time. The other parent becomes the non-custodial parent and gets parenting time according to the court order. That might mean every other weekend, weekday visits, or extended breaks; it could even include close to or equal parenting time. A non-custodial parent can still have frequent and meaningful time with the child.

In joint physical custody cases, the child splits time between both parents. The schedule might be equal or close to it, but it does not have to be. Judges and parents can create any schedule that makes sense for the child’s routine and needs.

Whether a parent has sole or joint custody, parenting time decisions still come down to what is best for the child.

Can Parenting Time Be Modified in Michigan After a Court Order?

Yes. After a court enters a final parenting time order, either parent can ask for changes – but not just for minor disagreements.

Under Michigan law, parents who wish to request a modification must show proper cause or a significant change in circumstances to demonstrate to the court why the change is necessary. That might include, for example, a new job, a move, a change in the child’s needs, or problems following the existing schedule. Normal changes in the child’s age or daily routine usually will not be enough.

Even after showing proper cause or a change in circumstances, the judge will not approve a new schedule unless it furthers the child’s best interests. The court will review the same Michigan parenting time factors it used during the original case.

If you need a modification of your parenting time order, our family law attorneys can help you prepare the right evidence and present it effectively in court.

Our Family Law Attorneys Can Help You Handle Parenting Time Issues

Parenting time decisions can shape your daily life and your child’s future. A lawyer from Kraayeveld Family Law can help you protect your parental rights in Michigan and build a plan that makes sense for your family.

Contact us online now or anytime at (616) 383-2679 to get started with your initial consultation.