What is an Alternating Weekend With an Overnight Parenting Schedule?

One of the major decisions to make during a divorce is how the parenting schedule will work. Many families have some form of shared parenting schedule, where their children spend significant time with each parent. For many, the “normal” schedule is established, and then the plan is further refined to address special occasions like holidays and vacations. One custody and parenting plan that works for some families is the “alternating weekend with an overnight” schedule.

Read on to learn more.

Background on Joint Custody

Joint Custody is what it’s called when a court orders custody of a minor child to both parents. There are two types of joint custody: joint legal custody and joint physical custody. It’s confusing, but it’s important to note that “joint physical custody” does not necessarily mean 50%/50% parenting time.

In some cases, joint custody refers to arrangements whereby the child lives with one parent on a primary basis, subject to flexible and liberal visitation with the other parent. In other cases, parents using a truly shared parenting model — like 3-4-4-3, 5-2-2-5, or week on week off — where each parent has substantially equal time with the child each week, or each month. Other families prefer the “alternating weekend with an overnight” schedule. The appropriateness of a particular schedule varies as parenting plans are often influenced by the child’s age, school and work schedules, and the distance between the two parents’ homes.

Alternating Weekend With Overnight Joint Physical Custody Schedule

“Alternating weekend with an overnight” refers to the time the child spends with each parent. With this plan, the children live at one parent’s during the majority of the one week, with one weekly overnight with the other parent.  The parents trade weekends.  then switch over to the other parent’s house the next week.  Many families choose to have the weekly overnight on Wednesdays, but you can choose whatever day of the week works best for your family.

Alternating Weekend With an Overnight Parenting Calendar

Pros and Cons of the Alternating Weekend With an Overnight Schedule

Like with every parenting schedule, there are pros and cons with an alternating weekend with overnight schedule.

First, let’s get the cons out of the way:

• Children sometimes go six days without seeing one parent.
• While the midweek overnight ensures more frequent time with both parents, it is sometimes disruptive.

Onto the pros:

• Kids’ weekdays are consistent.
• Children have time with both parents every week.
• There’s weekday time and weekend time with both parents.

Next Steps

For more information about Connecticut divorce and family law, check out our Divorce Information and Facts.

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