For coparents in Indiana, the state provides a specific blueprint for managing your time with your children. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (IPTG) provides the minimum standard to follow that courts presume is in the child’s best interest. By using the IPTG as a starting point for decisions, you can both maintain a meaningful and consistent relationship with your children.
Creating a custom schedule
When figuring out parenting time as coparents, it is best to treat the IPTG more like a baseline and not the benchmark. You can always agree to more time with your children, the IPTG protects you from receiving less time with them.
Additionally, the IPTG changes based on your child’s age to ensure the schedule matches their developmental needs. The guide can be a helpful tool for figuring out a new schedule as your children grow up.
Protections every parent should know
While it is good to follow a regular schedule, there are safeguards that help ensure that you both spend more time with your children in special circumstances. One of these is the right of first refusal. When the other parent needs a sitter for a significant period of time (usually four or more hours), they must offer that time to you first.
Another helpful tool is the holiday and school break priority. Since the IPTG holiday schedule rotates every year, it overrides regular weekly schedules. This allows both parents to get quality vacation time with their children.
Encouraging your child’s stability
While the IPTG is helpful for navigating child custody issues, implementing it into a court order requires more precision. Seeking legal guidance can help ensure your parenting schedule prioritizes your child’s well-being while complying with state guidelines.
