indiana parenting time guidelines pdf

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines are a set of rules that outline how parents should share time with their children after a divorce or separation. These guidelines are designed to promote frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact between children and both parents. They are updated regularly by the Indiana Supreme Court and include amendments received through January 1, 2022.

Introduction

Navigating the complexities of child custody and parenting time after a separation or divorce can be a challenging process for parents. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines serve as a valuable resource for families in Indiana, providing a structured framework for establishing a parenting time schedule that prioritizes the child’s well-being. These guidelines, adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court, outline general rules, parenting time schedules, and special considerations for various situations, ensuring that both parents have the opportunity to maintain a meaningful relationship with their child. While these guidelines provide a starting point for discussions, it is important to understand that they are not absolute and may be adapted to fit specific family circumstances.

Overview of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines are a comprehensive set of rules designed to establish a framework for shared parenting time after a separation or divorce. These guidelines, adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court, aim to promote the best interests of the child by ensuring frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact with both parents. The guidelines address various aspects of parenting time, including communication between parents, transportation arrangements, exchange of the child, and specific parenting time schedules for weekends, holidays, and summer. They also provide guidance for special situations such as relocation, distance between parents, and supervised parenting time. The guidelines are regularly updated by the Indiana Supreme Court to reflect changes in family law and societal norms.

Purpose and Scope of the Guidelines

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines serve a crucial purpose⁚ to provide a structured and consistent approach to establishing parenting time arrangements after a separation or divorce. These guidelines are intended to serve as a starting point for parents and the courts in developing parenting time plans that are in the best interests of the child. They are not intended to be rigid or inflexible, and courts and parents can deviate from the guidelines if it is deemed necessary to meet the specific needs of the child. The guidelines apply to all cases involving parenting time, including divorce, dissolution, paternity, and guardianship cases. They are intended to be comprehensive, addressing a wide range of issues related to parenting time, from communication between parents to the exchange of the child and specific time schedules for weekends, holidays, and summer.

General Rules Applicable to Parenting Time

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines establish a framework for general rules that apply to all parenting time arrangements. These rules aim to promote a smooth and consistent experience for both parents and children. Some key aspects of these general rules include⁚

• Communication⁚ The guidelines encourage open and respectful communication between parents regarding parenting time arrangements. This includes exchanging contact information and coordinating schedules to ensure that both parents are aware of the child’s whereabouts and activities.
• Transportation⁚ The guidelines provide guidance on how to handle the transportation of the child during parenting time exchanges, including who is responsible for picking up and dropping off the child and the specific time and location of the exchange.
• Exchange of the Child⁚ The guidelines address the process of exchanging the child between parents, emphasizing a safe and respectful environment where the child’s well-being is prioritized. This may include designated exchange locations, neutral parties to oversee the exchange, or other arrangements that minimize conflict.

These general rules serve as a foundation for creating a stable and predictable parenting time schedule that minimizes disruption to the child’s life.

Communication

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines recognize the importance of open and effective communication between parents to ensure a smooth and successful parenting time arrangement. The guidelines encourage parents to establish a clear and consistent communication plan, including⁚

• Exchanging contact information⁚ Parents should share their current phone numbers, email addresses, and any other relevant contact details to ensure they can easily communicate with each other about parenting time arrangements.
• Regular communication⁚ The guidelines emphasize the importance of regular communication between parents, even when there are no immediate issues. This includes discussing the child’s well-being, school activities, and any upcoming events or appointments.
• Respectful communication⁚ The guidelines encourage parents to communicate respectfully with each other, even when disagreements arise. This includes avoiding insults, accusations, or any language that could be perceived as hostile or disrespectful;

Effective communication is essential for creating a positive and supportive environment for the child, minimizing conflict between parents, and ensuring that both parents are actively involved in the child’s life.

Transportation

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines address the issue of transportation related to parenting time, aiming to ensure a safe and efficient exchange of the child between parents. Key aspects include⁚

• Responsibility for Transportation⁚ The guidelines generally require the parent who is exercising parenting time to be responsible for transporting the child to and from the exchange location. This may vary depending on the specific parenting time arrangement and any prior agreements between the parents.
• Safety and Convenience⁚ The guidelines prioritize the safety and convenience of the child during transportation. Parents are encouraged to use safe and reliable vehicles, consider the child’s age and needs, and make arrangements that minimize disruption to the child’s routine.
• Alternative Arrangements⁚ The guidelines recognize that transportation arrangements may need to be adjusted in certain situations. For example, if one parent is unable to drive due to disability or distance, alternative arrangements such as public transportation or shared transportation with another adult may be considered;

The guidelines aim to facilitate a smooth and efficient exchange of the child, prioritizing safety and minimizing any potential inconvenience or stress for the child.

Exchange of the Child

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines offer guidance on the exchange of the child between parents during parenting time transitions. This section focuses on creating a structured and safe process that minimizes disruption for the child. Key aspects include⁚

• Neutral Exchange Locations⁚ The guidelines recommend utilizing neutral exchange locations such as a police station, fire station, or designated public area. This helps to minimize potential conflicts and create a neutral environment for the exchange.
• Supervision⁚ In certain cases, the guidelines may require the presence of a third party, such as a social worker or family counselor, during the exchange. This is especially relevant in situations where there is a history of conflict or safety concerns.
• Communication⁚ The guidelines emphasize the importance of clear and respectful communication between parents regarding the exchange. This includes establishing a schedule, confirming the exchange time and location, and informing each other of any changes or unforeseen circumstances.

These guidelines aim to promote a smooth and positive exchange experience for the child, minimizing stress and ensuring their well-being during the transition between parents.

Parenting Time Schedules

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide a framework for establishing parenting time schedules that promote frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact between children and both parents. These schedules are designed to ensure children have ample opportunity to maintain a strong bond with each parent, regardless of the parents’ living arrangements. The guidelines outline specific recommendations for different time periods, including weekends, holidays, and summer breaks.

They recognize that each family dynamic is unique and encourage flexibility to accommodate individual needs and circumstances. The guidelines serve as a starting point for parents and the court to develop a parenting time schedule that best serves the child’s well-being and promotes a healthy parent-child relationship.

Weekends

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines suggest that the non-custodial parent should have parenting time with the child on alternating weekends. This typically means having the child on Friday evening and returning them to the custodial parent on Sunday evening. The guidelines aim to ensure that children have the opportunity to spend quality time with both parents on a regular basis.

However, the guidelines also acknowledge that circumstances may necessitate adjustments to this standard schedule. For instance, if the parents live a significant distance apart, the weekend parenting time may be modified to allow for longer visits, or the parents may agree to alternate weekend visits with the child spending one weekend with each parent.

Holidays

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide specific recommendations for holiday parenting time schedules. The goal is to ensure that both parents have the opportunity to share important holidays with their children. The guidelines generally outline a schedule where the parents alternate holidays each year, providing a sense of fairness and consistency.

For example, one parent may have the child for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in even-numbered years, while the other parent has the child for these holidays in odd-numbered years. Similar arrangements are suggested for other significant holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter. The guidelines recognize that parents may have different traditions and preferences, so they encourage parents to discuss and agree on a holiday schedule that works best for their family.

Summer

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines address summer parenting time, recognizing the importance of extended time with both parents during the summer break. The guidelines recommend that parents create a schedule that allows for meaningful and frequent contact with both parents. This may involve alternating weeks or having specific periods of time with each parent.

The guidelines emphasize the importance of flexibility and encourage parents to discuss and agree upon a summer schedule that works best for their family and children’s needs. They also advise parents to consider the children’s ages, interests, and any special circumstances that may impact the best approach to summer parenting time. Parents are encouraged to focus on creating a positive and enjoyable summer experience for their children while maintaining a sense of normalcy and routine.

Special Considerations

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines recognize that parenting time arrangements may need to be adjusted based on specific circumstances. The guidelines address various special considerations, including relocation, distance, and supervised parenting time. In cases where one parent intends to relocate, the guidelines provide guidance on how to approach parenting time arrangements to minimize disruption to the child’s relationship with both parents.

When distance is a major factor, the guidelines suggest a modified parenting time schedule that accommodates the travel involved. For instance, the guidelines propose that for children under three years of age, the non-custodial parent may exercise parenting time in the community of the custodial parent, up to two five-hour periods each week. In situations where safety concerns exist, the guidelines address supervised parenting time, which may be ordered by the court to ensure the child’s safety and well-being during visits.

Relocation

Relocation is a significant factor that can impact parenting time arrangements. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines address relocation by outlining the steps that must be taken when a parent intends to move their residence. Indiana law requires all individuals who have (or who are seeking) child custody or parenting time, and who intend to relocate their residence, to provide notice to an individual who has (or is seeking) child custody, parenting time or grandparent visitation. This notice must be provided in writing and must include specific details about the proposed relocation, including the new address, the date of the move, and the reason for the relocation.

The guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining a child’s relationship with both parents even after a relocation. Courts will consider the best interests of the child when determining whether to approve a relocation and how it will affect parenting time arrangements. The guidelines encourage parents to consider the impact of relocation on their child and to work together to create a parenting time schedule that minimizes disruption to the child’s life.

Distance

When parents live a significant distance apart, the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines offer guidance on establishing parenting time schedules that accommodate the geographical separation. The guidelines recognize that distance can pose challenges to frequent and meaningful contact with both parents and strive to create arrangements that minimize the negative impact on the child’s relationship with each parent.

The guidelines provide specific recommendations for parenting time schedules based on the child’s age and the distance between the parents. For example, for children under three years of age, the non-custodial parent may have the option to exercise parenting time in the community of the custodial parent up to two five-hour periods each week. The guidelines also encourage parents to consider the use of technology, such as video conferencing, to maintain contact between the child and the non-custodial parent when distance is a factor.

Supervised Parenting Time

Supervised parenting time is a situation where a third party, such as a social worker or counselor, monitors visits between a child and a parent. This type of arrangement is typically employed when there are concerns about the safety or well-being of the child during visits. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines acknowledge the need for supervised parenting time in certain circumstances and provide guidance on how to implement it effectively.

The guidelines emphasize that supervised parenting time should take place in a setting that is as home-like as possible, considering the nature of family involvement, current safety assessments, the needs of the child and caregivers, and permanency goals. The purpose of supervised parenting time is to gradually increase the child’s comfort level and build a positive relationship with the parent while ensuring the child’s safety. The guidelines also encourage parents to work with professionals to develop a plan for transitioning from supervised to unsupervised parenting time when appropriate.