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46TH CIRCUIT COURT FRIEND OF THE COURT PARENTING TIME GUIDELINES Michigan law states that it is presumed to be in the best interests of a child to have a strong relationship with both parents, and the Court is required to order parenting time in a way that is reasonably calculated to promote this strong relationship. If the parents can agree on the terms of parenting time, the Court will in most cases approve the agreed upon schedule. The Court has suggested parenting time schedules as a guideline or model that parents may wish to consider when formulating a parenting time plan. The Court may apply a parenting time schedule in appropriate cases including those where the parents fail to agree upon a schedule. A parenting time guideline can only be enforced when it is referenced and made part of a Court order. If your Court order contains the statement “reasonable parenting time” that means any parenting time upon which the parents can agree. The Friend of the Court will not be able to enforce parenting time because the order does not contain a specific schedule. If either parent wishes to have a specific schedule, the parties can enter into a written agreement and have that agreement reviewed and entered as a Court order or he/she can petition the Court. LONG DISTANCE PARENTING TIME GUIDELINE This Court strongly supports and encourages parents to work together to arrive at a parenting time schedule when there is geographic distance between the parties of more than two but less than five hours driving time, one way. Where the driving time is more than five hours, a parenting time plan will need to be established on an individual basis. Weekend Parenting Time It is intended that the non-custodial parent will have one three overnight weekend per month during the school year. In the months with extended parenting time such as the spring and Christmas school breaks and Thanksgiving, the extended parenting time for that month will constitute the three overnight weekend. The three overnight weekend, whenever possible, should be exercised when the child(ren) have a Friday or Monday off from school for either a school holiday, in service training day or other scheduled Monday or Friday off from school as dictated by the school calendar. If, in a given month there is no Monday or Friday scheduled off from school, the non-custodial parent will still be entitled to one three overnight weekend. However, the non-custodial parent should ensure that the child’s educational pursuits are not jeopardized by running afoul of the school district’s attendance policy, if any. The non-custodial parent will be responsible to obtain the school calendar from the school district in which the child(ren) attends so that arrangements for weekend parenting time can be made at least 30 days in advance. 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving and Winter (Christmas) Break Spring Break The non-custodial parent will have spring break each year beginning the day school adjourns at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. the day before school resumes. A general itinerary will be provided to the other parent if the child(ren) are on a trip lasting more than three days away from either parent’s home. Summer Break The non-custodial parent will have a total of eight weeks of summer parenting time to be exercised in two three week and one two week blocks of time commencing at 6:00 p.m. the day school adjourns for the summer. Summer parenting time is to end one full week before school resumes in the fall. Summer school necessary for the child(ren) to pass to the next grade must be attended. A general itinerary will be provided to the other parent if the child(ren) are on a trip lasting more than three days away from either parent’s home. Thanksgiving Break The non-custodial parent will have the child(ren) each Thanksgiving break from Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Winter (Christmas) Break The parties will share Christmas school break with the custodial parent having the first part of the break in years ending in even numbers, for seven overnights or one-half of the total overnights of the break, whichever is greater, and the non-custodial parent having the second half ending the day before school reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. In the years ending in odd numbers the non-custodial parent will have the first part of the break commencing at 6:00 p.m. on the day school adjourns for seven overnights or one-half of the total overnights of the break, whichever is greater. Additional Parenting Time The non-custodial parent is entitled to additional parenting time upon two days notice whenever that parent is in the geographic area of the child(ren). When the child(ren) are within 25 miles of the non-custodial parent’s residence the custodial parent must notify the other parent and offer parenting time. Pre-School Age Children If no child in the family is of school age, the non-custodial parent will be entitled to seven overnights per month beginning on the first Friday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. on the following Friday. This provision takes precedence over weekend, school break, summer and additional parenting time as outlined above. If there are both non-school age and school age children in the family, then the parenting time outlined above will apply. 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Additional Parenting Time Should special circumstances arise, either parent can petition the Court to request additional parenting time with the child(ren). Transportation Transportation will be shared equally for all parenting time established by this policy. The non- custodial parent will pick up the child(ren) at the beginning of the parenting time period and the custodial parent will pick up the child(ren) at the end of the parent time period. Telephone/Internet Contact The non-custodial parent will have the right to reasonable contact with the child(ren) by telephone or electronic mail. While the children are with the non-custodial parent for extended periods of time, the custodial parent will have the right to similar reasonable contact. Long Distance Parenting Time Offset School Age Children: Non-Custodial Parent 91 Overnights Custodial Parent 274 Overnights Pre-School Age Children: Non-Custodial Parent 84 Overnights Custodial Parent 281 Overnights 3 Rev. 10-2010