No matter where you are in the country, summertime for most means vacations, quick trips, fun outings, festivals and the just a lot more to do. The days are longer, warmer, and mostly pleasantly sunny, meaning there is an increased opportunity to spend quality time with the family. When you have been granted parenting time according to Indiana law you can figure out how you want to use your time with your kids during the summer.

The Parenting Time Guidelines, otherwise known as the “Guidelines,” allow non-custodial parents to have extended parenting time during the summer. There are deadlines to notify the custodial parent of the changes in dates you are requesting. It is important that you get your summer plans settled before the deadline so you can ensure that you get the time you are looking for. If you miss the deadline, the custodial parent is allowed to choose your time for you. Your Indiana family law attorney can help ensure you do not miss any important deadlines this summer. 

Terms

The notices given to the custodial parent for alternative time must be in both verbal and written forms. The age of the child can also have an impact on time.  Parents of children who are older than 5 get to have half of their children’s summer vacation time spent together, according to Section II. Paragraph D (3).  

The definition of summer vacation includes the day after school lets out for the start of the summer all the way through the day before school is set to begin again for the following regular academic year. Parents have the option to either use all their time back-to-back or to use it in two separate increments. If there is an alternative agreement of time between parents, such as in the case of alternating weeks, this can also work.

Year-Round School Considerations

For those students who do not take the traditional summer break period and attend school on a year-round basis, there are still indications in the guidelines allowing for an extended time for non-custodial parents. School breaks are where the extended guidelines take place. That means that the non-custodial parent gets half of both fall and spring break, and this time occurs in the first half of the break on odd years. The converse is true for even years — the non-custodial parent gets time during the second half of the break.

According to the Guidelines, the break begins two hours after the child has been released from school and the second half ends at 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to school starting back up again after the break. This, just like in the summer, can also be modified if a different agreement works better for the parents involved.

Other Considerations

Extended visitation is not always simple or clear. When a child must attend summer school, this impacts the rules around custody. It is the responsibility of the parent who has the child during his or her time to provide transportation to and from school.

An extended time of more than two weeks back-to-back still allows the other parent to have the regular parenting schedule. This means that if you have your child for more than two weeks straight, you may still have to alternate weekends as long as there is not a pre-scheduled vacation that changes these time requirements.

Holidays are another factor that can change extended visitation. When you are looking at your schedule, make sure the other parent does not have rights to a holiday during the time you are requesting or you will miss out on that day. For instance, in the case of the summer, the Fourth of July may be already granted to one parent. If the other wants to have the child during this time around and over that holiday, the parent with the rights to the Fourth still gets the child for that day. According to Section II. Paragraph F (1), the pre-agreed upon holiday parenting time schedule will take priority. 

Contacting an Indiana Child Custody Attorney

The best result for child custody in any co-parenting situation is when both parents have an amicable relationship and can work together to find the most accommodating agreement.  However, sometimes the parents’ relationship is contentious. This potentially stressful situation requires the assistance of a knowledgeable and effective Indiana child custody attorney like Christopher L. Arrington P.C. 

Christopher L. Arrington P.C. is an Indiana parenting time attorney that will advocate aggressively for your rights. Call our Danville law firm today at 317-745-4494 and we can set up a meeting convenient to your schedule to discuss your situation.