Elements of Visitation Schedules for Non-Custodial Parents

Visitation to minor children is available in divorces for when one parent has sole custodial rights over the children. There are various state laws in place governing visitation, in terms of time, frequency and the types of visits allowed.

Here are various elements of visitation plans that you will need to be familiar with if you are not the custodial parent in your divorce:

• Frequency. Common schedules include overnight visits, weekday afternoons or evenings. Longer visitation periods can be arranged. Overnight visits are only disallowed if such visits are proven to be a danger to the child.
• Holidays. School and holiday vacations can be split into categories based on how major/important they are. Holiday visitation schedules may alternate from year to year so that parents can take turns celebrating major holidays with their children.
• Special events. Birthdays and Mother’s and Father’s day are usually part of a visitation schedule, among other kinds of special events.
• Transportation. Visitation schedules should be extremely clear about who’s responsible for transporting the kids, as well as pick-up and drop-off times and locations.
• Grandparent visitation. Grandparents of non-custodial parents may still be offered visitation as well. Your visitation plan should include what happens if the non-custodial parent is away on travel or business — do grandparents get to share the usual scheduled business time?
• Alternative visitation. Technology is another major factor in visitation. Will there be limits placed on phone calls, chatting or Skyping with the non-custodial parent? This should be clearly outlined in your visitation plan.

Your visitation plan should set a sound plan for the future in terms of the time you and the other parent will spend with your kids. For the guidance you need during this challenging process, work with a skilled Suffolk County child custody attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.