A divorce is more complex when children are involved. A typical custody agreement is usually a 50/50 split. Custody agreements use the law, the needs of the family and court decisions in Yakima, Washington. A 3-3-4-4 schedule allows equal child custody but there are many details to consider.
Benefits of a 50/50 custody agreement
Many factors determine grandparents’ visitation rights and third-party custody. Courts look at the parents’ living situations, schedules and communication. Children between two stable households keep consistent schedules. Seeing the steady schedules of their parents help children cope with divorce by keeping their stress down. A 50/50 shared custody schedule has obvious barriers, such as the parents not living near each other. Mid-week and alternate weeks may not be possible with those living situations.
How does the 3-3-4-4 schedule work?
A 3-3-4-4 schedule is a common option for parents that want equal custody of their children. Both parents have the children for three days, then after both parents have the children for four days. Parents should divide up weekends if possible. The allotted time over the weekend differs from the busy weekday activities. A schedule that starts on Sunday would switch off on Wednesday. The first parent would get the children starting on Saturday, and the other parent would have the children until Saturday. During this schedule, the parents would get the children every other Saturday.
The 3-3-4-4 schedule is flexible for non-traditional parents that work over weekends. The parents can start on any day to reflect their schedule. The downside of a 3-3-4-4 schedule is the lack of consideration for holidays or school breaks. There are variations to the 3-3-4-4 formula to create a more flexible situation for families. A 4-3-3-4 schedule allows parents to pick up children during the week from their school. Adjustments to the schedule should consider the children’s time away from both parents.
