REMINDER SUMMER PARENTING TIME SELECTIONS DUE BY APRIL 1ST IN INDIANA AND 8 STRATEGIES FOR SELECTION OF SUMMER PARENTING TIME
Summer vacation offers a unique opportunity for children and their parents to spend quality time together, but for separated or divorced families, planning can be complex. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, like those in many jurisdictions, aim to ensure that both parents enjoy significant time with their children during these precious months. This blog post will explore how to navigate these guidelines to create a summer parenting schedule that prioritizes the well-being of the children involved, offers sample schedules for inspiration, and advises on what to do if disagreements arise. For those facing these challenges, understanding and applying these strategies can pave the way for a summer parenting time plan that considers the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and the best interests of the children.
For summer vacation planning, parents have various options to ensure quality time with their children. Alternating vacations or specific weeks, dividing summer equally between parents, and allocating a continuous period for the non-custodial parent, especially for those living far away, are common practices. Additionally, integrating special activities or camps, with a clear understanding of responsibility for costs, can enrich the child's summer experience. These arrangements require cooperation and flexibility from both parents to best accommodate the child's needs and interests.
When parents disagree about the summer parenting time schedule, seeking help from their attorney, a parenting coordinator, or mediator can be a constructive step towards resolution. If a compromise doesn't lead to an agreement, parents may need to seek court intervention, where a judge will decide. It's important for parents to remain focused on the well-being of their child throughout this process.
To minimize conflicts over parenting time, establishing a written agreement can also help clarify expectations and reduce misunderstandings. Including things like exchange times, locations of exchanges, or if a parent will be out of town during a segment of the summer parenting time can reduce conflicts or help to ensure clarity of the schedule. When disagreements arise, focusing on the child's best interests rather than personal differences can guide parents to a more amicable resolution.
Summer is a great time for families to spend some quality time together. You can ensure a great summer by trying to be proactive in incorporating as much known information that will impact summer parenting time, choosing to be flexible with the other parent, and by focusing on what is best for your children
[1] IPTG Section 2, D, 3: One-half of the Summer Vacation. The summer vacation begins the day after school lets out for the summer and ends the day before school resumes for the new school year. The time may be either consecutive or split into two (2) segments. The noncustodial parent shall give notice to the custodial parent of the selection by April 1 of each year. If such notice is not given, the custodial parent shall make the selection and notify the other parent. All notices shall be given in writing and verbally. A timely selection may not be rejected by the other parent. Notice of an employer's restrictions on the vacation time of either parent shall be delivered to the other parent as soon as that information is available. In scheduling parenting time, the employer imposed restrictions on either parent's time shall be considered by the parents in arranging their time with their child.
If a child attends a school that has a year-round or balanced calendar, the noncustodial parent’s extended parenting time shall be one-half of the time for fall and spring school breaks. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parents or ordered by the trial court, the noncustodial parent shall exercise parenting time the first half of school break in odd years, and the second half of school break in even years. Absent an agreement of the parties, the first half of the break will begin two hours after the child is released from the school, and the second half of the period will end at 6:00 p.m. on the day before school begins again. Summer Vacation should be shared equally between parents as provided in the paragraph above. Winter break/Christmas vacation should be shared as provided in the Holiday Parenting Time Schedule.
If a child attends summer school, the parent exercising parenting time shall be responsible for the child's transportation to and attendance at school.
During any extended summer period of more than two (2) consecutive weeks with the noncustodial parent, the custodial parent shall have the benefit of the regular parenting time schedule set forth above, which includes alternating weekends and mid-week parenting time, unless impracticable because of distance created by out-of-town vacations.
Similarly, during the summer period when the children are with the custodial parent for more than two (2) consecutive weeks, the noncustodial parent's regular parenting time continues, which includes alternating weekends and mid-week parenting time, unless impracticable because of distance created by out-of-town vacations.
The selection of a parent’s summer parenting time shall not deprive the other parent of the Holiday Parenting Time Schedule below. See Section II. F.
This blog post was written by attorneys at Dixon & Moseley, P. C., who handle the full spectrum of domestic issues, including premarital agreements, paternity matters, divorces, grandparent rights, appeals and adoptions. We hope it has provided you with useful information. This blog is not a solicitation for legal services or a specific legal advice. It is an advertisement.
