Types of Child Custody Schedules

August 26th, 2025
Posted By
Sarah M. Litowich
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If you and your child’s other parent no longer live together due to divorce or separation, it’s essential to have a custody arrangement in place that ensures you are both actively involved in your child’s life. Significantly, there are many different types of child custody schedules that can be implemented into your parenting plan. It’s vital to have a rotation in place that promotes stability, minimizes conflict, and prioritizes the child’s best interests.

What is a Child Custody Schedule?

A key component in a parenting plan, a child custody schedule outlines the specifics of the child custody arrangement and provides a framework for parenting time. Importantly, child custody schedules are not one-size-fits-all. They can be customized to the needs of the parents and child. A child custody schedule should take a number of factors into consideration, including:
  • The child’s developmental stage
  • The parents’ work schedules
  • The geographical proximity of the parents
  • The child’s school and extracurricular activity schedule
  • The ability of the parents to communicate
  • The child’s relationship with their siblings
  • The best interests of the child
A child custody schedule must be in writing and signed by a judge in order to be enforceable. Notably, once a child custody order has been established, neither parent can make changes without the other’s consent or the court’s approval. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last order was entered, the court may grant a modification.

Traditional Custody Schedules

Critically, courts favor joint custody arrangements whenever possible to ensure the child can have a meaningful relationship with each parent. There are a number of schedules that can be implemented into a parenting plan based on the family’s circumstances and the child’s needs. Some traditional child custody schedule options that might be considered in joint custody situations can include the following:
  • Alternating weeks — With an alternating week custody arrangement, each parent has the child for a full week. Also referred to as a 50/50 custody schedule, this arrangement gives parents equal parenting time. This type of schedule aims to minimize the number of transitions for the child and reduce conflict between co-parents.
  • Alternating weekends — Also referred to as an “every other weekend” schedule, an alternating weekend arrangement gives one parent a full week of parenting time, plus the weekend. The other parent would see the children every other weekend.
  • 4-3 schedule — A 4-3 custody schedule is a 60/40 split of parenting time each week. Parents can vary the days they have the children. This type of schedule provides consistency and stability for the child while allowing them to have significant time with each parent.
  • 5-2 schedule — A 5-2 schedule allows one parent to have the child for five days and the other for two days. Typically, the time is divided up into the week and weekend. But it can also be tailored to give a parent time in the middle of the week instead of the weekend.
  • 2-2-3 schedule — With a 2-2-3 schedule, one parent will spend two days with the child, the other will spend the next two days with them. The first parent will then get the parent for the next three days, and so on. This schedule ensures that the children do not spend more than three days apart from one parent. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this arrangement works best with co-parents who live near each other and can communicate amicably.
  • 3-4-4-3 schedule — A 3-4-4-3 schedule breaks the week up into periods of three and four days. One parent would have the children for three days, the other would spend the next four days with them, and so forth. This schedule works best for younger children who need to see each parent on a regular basis and co-parents who don’t live far apart.
  • 2-2-5-5 schedule — When parents use a 2-2-5-5 rotation, two-week periods are split into two-day and five-day periods. This allows the child to spend two days with one parent, followed by two days with the other. Then, the child would have a period of five days with the first parent, followed by five with the other. This schedule can reduce the amount of time the child is apart from each parent while allowing the parents to maintain a consistent schedule.
Parents do not need to leave custody decisions up to a judge to decide. In fact, judges encourage parents to reach an agreement regarding child custody schedules and parenting time matters outside the courtroom. Mediation and the collaborative process are two alternative dispute resolution methods that can help parents communicate effectively and maintain amicability as they work to reach an agreement.

Non-Traditional Custody Schedules

In some cases, parents may have irregular schedules due to their occupation. For instance, firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, and pilots all work non-traditional hours, making flexibility necessary. In these cases, a custody plan may be created that allows for blocks of parenting time during the parent’s consecutive days off. A provision should also be included that leaves room for any last-minute changes due to schedule changes.

Custody Schedules for Long-Distance Plans

When parents live some distance away from each other, it’s vital to create a long-distance parenting plan that works for the whole family. Parents might consider allocating parenting time to one parent during the school year, and the other during summer breaks and school vacations. The parenting plan should also specify travel logistics and how expenses for travel will be shared between parents.

Contact an Experienced Oregon Child Custody Attorney

If you are facing a child custody matter, it’s crucial to have a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney by your side who can ensure your rights are protected — and the best interests of your children are met. Based in Salem, Litowich Law offers trusted representation for a wide range of matrimonial and family law matters throughout Oregon, including those involving child custody. We welcome you to contact us for a consultation.
Categories: Child Custody