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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. If you have a dispute regarding parenting time, and your order has “reasonable parenting time” language in it, 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. STANDARD PARENTING TIME GUIDELINE The Standard Parenting Time Guideline is for parents who live within two hours driving time from each other. The parenting schedule is as follows: Weekend Parenting Time The non-custodial parent will be entitled to parenting time on alternating weekends from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Mid-week Parenting Time The non-custodial parent will be entitled to parenting time the Wednesday evening preceding the custodial parent’s weekend from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Holiday Parenting Time The father will have parenting time in years ending in an odd number and the mother will have parenting time in years ending in even numbers on the following holidays: New Year’s: From 6:00 p.m. on December 31st to 8:00 p.m. on January 1st Christmas Eve: From noon on December 24th to noon on December 25th Labor Day: From 6:00 p.m. the evening before until 8:00 p.m. on Labor Day Memorial Day: From 6:00 p.m. the day before until 8:00 p.m. on Memorial Day 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- The father will have parenting time in years ending in even numbers and the mother will have parenting time in years ending in odd numbers for the following holidays: Christmas Day: From noon on December 25th until 8:00 p.m. on December 26th Thanksgiving: From 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday until 8:00 p.m. on Friday 4th of July: From 6:00 p.m. on July 3rd until 8:00 p.m. on July 4th Easter: From 6:00 p.m. on Good Friday until 8:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday With the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when a holiday falls on the Monday following the parenting time weekend, parenting time will be from Friday at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. on Monday. Should the holiday fall on Friday of the parenting time weekend, parenting time will be from Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Minor children age seven or younger should be returned to the custodial parent by 7:00 p.m. If there is more than one child, the age of the youngest child should determine the time of return. Father’s Day will be spent with the father each year beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. Mother’s Day will be spent with the mother each year beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. All holiday parenting time including Father’s Day and Mother’s Day will take precedence over regular weekday/weekend parenting time. Spring, Summer and Winter (Christmas Break) Parenting Time Spring Break The father will have parenting time in the years ending in an even number and the mother will have parenting time in years ending in an odd number. Spring break will occur during the spring break of the school district in which the child(ren) resides from 6:00 p.m. the day school is scheduled to recess until 6:00 p.m. the day before school is scheduled to resume. Winter (Christmas) Break In years ending in an odd number, the father will have parenting time from 6:00 p.m. on the date that school in the district in which the child(ren) resides recesses for the winter break until noon on December 25th and the mother will have parenting time from noon on December 25th until 6:00 p.m. on December 31st. Thereafter, the normal parenting time schedule will resume. In years ending in an even number, the mother will have parenting time from 6:00 p.m. on the date the school district in which the child(ren) resides recesses for winter break until noon on December 25th and the father will have parenting time from noon on December 25th until 6:00 p.m. on December 31st. 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Summer Break Prior to the child’s sixth birthday, summer parenting time for the non-custodial parent will consist of four, non-consecutive one-week blocks. The one-week block will begin at 6:00 p.m. Friday on the non-custodial parent’s weekend and will end at 6:00 p.m. the following Friday when the custodial parent’s weekend begins. The blocks for summer parenting time will be determined by the school schedule for the school district in which the child resides, even if the child is not of school age. After the child’s sixth birthday, the non-custodial parent will be entitled to six weeks of parenting time to be exercised during the time the school district in which the child(ren) resides recesses for summer break. If parenting time is exercised in three or more week blocks of time, the custodial parent will be entitled to exercise alternating weekend parenting time beginning the second Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. 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 child(ren) are with the non-custodial parent for extended periods of time, the custodial parent will have the right to similar reasonable contact. Standard Parenting Time Guideline Offset Children Six Years of Age and Older: Non-Custodial Parent 101 Overnights Custodial Parent 264 Overnights Children Younger than Six Years of Age: Non-Custodial Parent 87 Overnights Custodial Parent 278 Overnights 3 Rev. 06-2010