Standard Custody Agreements
A standard custody agreement provides parents with basic rights and the accepted minimum amount of time with their child. A standard agreement typically gives one parent custody and the other parent visitation.
Different jurisdictions have different standard agreements. Check your state's custody agreement guidelines. Requirements may even vary by county, but the basic principles are very similar.
You can use the Custody X Change app to create a standard custody agreement, modify a standard agreement to meet your needs or create a completely customized agreement for your child.
What should I include in my standard custody agreement?
A standard custody agreement should contain:
- Provisions for legal and physical custody
- A child visitation schedule
- How the parents will handle important decisions in the child's life
- Provisions for the care of the child (co-parenting rules)
- A method for making changes to the custody plan
When you use Custody X Change to create an agreement, you can feel confident that you'll get a professional document with all the necessary information. You won't have to worry about leaving anything out because the app guides you through each parenting agreement category.
How is physical custody divided in a standard agreement?
A visitation schedule in a standard agreement typically has the child visit the noncustodial parent every other weekend from Friday evening until Sunday evening (an alternating weekends schedule). In some jurisdictions, the parent also sees the child for a few hours one evening during the week.
For any given holiday, each parent has the child in alternating years. However, the child spends Mother's Day with the mother and Father's Day with the father every year.
A standard custody agreement usually gives the noncustodial parent extra time with the child during school breaks. A noncustodial parent can expect to have the child for several weeks in the summer.
How fair is a standard visitation schedule to each parent?
The alternating weekends schedule is designed to give the child the minimum recommended amount of time with the noncustodial parent. Weekdays are often busy, so confining exchanges to weekends can simplify life. Rotating weekends between parents allows each parent to have free time with the child.
However, the schedule does not allow the noncustodial parent to participate in weekday activities like getting the child ready for school each morning or helping with homework each night.
Consider each parent's schedule preferences, and try to reach a compromise. You can use Custody X Change to present multiple schedule options.
No matter what, do not try to hurt the other parent by limiting their visitation time unnecessarily. Put your child's needs first.
Is a standard visitation schedule in my child's best interests?
The alternating weekend schedule doesn't work for every child. If your child is exceptionally close to the noncustodial parent, seeing that parent bi-weekly may be difficult for them.
Your visitation schedule and child custody agreement should mirror the needs of your child. You may need to write in supervised visits to protect them, if the noncustodial parent poses a threat to the child.
As parents, you know your child best. Work together to agree on a schedule, whether it's the standard visitation schedule or an alternative.
The easiest way to make a custody agreement
Creating a custody agreement on your own can feel overwhelming. You have to be sure to use airtight legal language and can't omit any required information.
Use technology to take the guesswork out of the equation. The Custody X Change app walks you through each step of creating a comprehensive custody agreement.
The result is a professional document that demonstrates your competence as a parent and secures your child's future.
The easiest and most reliable way to make a custody agreement is with Custody X Change.
