Because you and your spouse know your schedules best, you may want to create your own joint custody parenting time schedule rather than leaving it up to the court. Wisconsin requires that you send in a co-parenting plan within a certain time period. If your ex-spouse submits a schedule and you don’t contest it within 60 days, Wisconsin will approve their schedule by default. Here are some of the possible schedules you may come to an agreement on with your child’s other parent.
1. 2-2-3 rotation
Child custody and parenting time are especially important to consider when you have young children because they can’t handle being away from one parent for too long. Even one week apart is often too long for young children. The 2-2-3 rotation joint custody schedule is a great plan for young children because they are never away from one parent for more than three days at a time. They spend two days with you, two days with your former spouse and then three days with you, and the pattern repeats.
2. 3-3-4-4 rotation
If you like the thought of your child residing with one parent on Wednesdays through Fridays and the other parent on Sundays through Tuesdays, the 3-3-4-4 rotation may be a good choice. Saturdays are the only day of the week that alternate with this schedule.
3. Alternating weeks
Older children often prefer alternating weeks so that they can focus on their schoolwork and extracurriculars without worrying about switching houses in the middle of the week. In an alternating-week joint custody parenting schedule, your child stays with you one week and then with your former spouse the next week.
4. Alternating weeks with mid-week visit
Another option that your child may like is alternating weeks but with the other parent coming over for dinner or to chauffeur them to their extracurricular activities one day of the week. This arrangement allows children to avoid going a full week without spending time with their other parent.
Wisconsin family courts want parents to consider the best interests of the children when creating a joint custody parenting schedule. You may have to become creative in the way you spend time with your child to make it work with your personal schedule.