As legal professionals, we sometimes forget about one of the most difficult parts of putting a parenting plan together, the visitation provisions. It is true the visitation provisions are the most important part for the parents. The parents will be stuck with this plan until they willingly or unwillingly change it.
Most lawyers or paralegals will simply ask you what visitation dates and times you want for your new parenting plan. This is because we are not equipped to tell you what will work best for your situation. That is your job. This library article will help you to take control of proposing a visitation schedule that works for your Washington parenting plan.
This article will not go into the specifics of parenting plans in Washington. Instead, it will focus only on possible visitation arrangements. For more information about Washington parenting plans in general, see this series on exploring the Washington parenting plan.
Diving in to Washington Parenting Plan Schedules
Before you start to think about a visitation schedule, you need to think about two huge factors. How is your relationship with the other parent and what ages are the children? You should focus on these two factors when looking at the schedules below.
For Washington parenting plans, it is best to take a stage related approach. That is, the different visitation schedules will vary depending on the age and developmental level of the child. Most counties in Washington take this approach, including King County.
The overall agreement in the legal community is that a baby needs stability of care and that the bond between each parent and the baby should be encouraged and fostered. Of course, visitation schedules for babies will vary greatly and depend on how the parents get along.
| 1. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. |
| 2. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. AND each Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The non-residential parent may pick the child up from the childcare provider, and return the child to the residential parent. |
| 3. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. AND each Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. |
| 4. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. AND each Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The non-residential parent may pick the child up from the childcare provider, and return the child to the residential parent. |
| 5. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. AND each Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The non-residential parent may perform some parenting functions in the home of the residential parent. |
| 6. The non-residential parent shall have the child for two weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The non-residential parent will provide childcare during these times. AND each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The non-residential parent can have some overnights as agreed between the parents. |
At this age the children can deal with less frequent contact with the other parent. However, it is still important for the child to have stability and consistent contact with the other parent.
| 7. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The child should stay overnight until 11:00 a.m. on every other Sunday. |
| 8. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and overnight until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. AND every other Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on each Monday after the weekend spent with the residential parent. |
| 9. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The child shall stay overnight until 10:00 a.m. every other Sunday. AND each Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. |
| 10. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. AND each Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The non-residential parent can perform some parenting functions at the residential parent's home upon agreement. |
| 11. The non-residential parent shall have the child for two weekdays from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The non-residential parent will provide childcare during these times. AND each Friday from 12:00 p.m. until 12:00 p.m. Saturday. |
At this age, the level of conflict between the parents should weigh heavily on the decision for frequent or less frequent contact with the residential parent. Contact that is more frequent is ideal if the parents get along.
| 12. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. |
| 13. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on the Monday following the weekend spent with the residential parent. |
| 14. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND each Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. |
| 15. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND each Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The non-residential parent shall pick the child up from daycare and return the child to daycare. |
| 16. The non-residential parent shall have the child for two weekdays from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The non-residential parent will provide childcare during these times. AND overnights each Thursday night. AND every other weekend Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. |
| 17. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. |
At this age children become involved with some extracurricular activities. Visitation schedules should take these activities into account. If the parents get along, more frequent contact is encouraged.
| 18. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Friday after school until 4:00 p.m. Saturday. |
| 19. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. Friday until 4:00 p.m. Sunday. AND alternating Mondays from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on the Monday following the weekend spent with the residential parent. |
| 20. The non-residential parent shall have the child each Friday after school until 4:00 p.m. Saturday. AND each Monday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. |
| 21. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. Thursday until 4:00 p.m. Sunday. AND alternating Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. |
| The non-residential parent shall have the child each Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. |
| 22. One parent shall have the child each Wednesday after school until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. One parent shall have the child each Saturday at 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
| 23. One parent shall have the child each Monday and Tuesday. One parent shall have the child each Wednesday and Thursday. Alternating weekends from Friday through Sunday with each parent. |
The schedule at this age is similar to the early elementary schedule. Due to more activities and interactions with friends, children may want less frequent contact.
| 24. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND alternating Mondays from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on the Monday following the weekend spent with the residential parent. |
| 25. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Thursday until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND each Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. |
| 26. One parent shall have the child each Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. One parent shall have the child each Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
| 27. The parents shall alternate weeks and exchange the child on either Fridays or Sundays. |
The younger adolescent schedule is similar to the late elementary schedule. However, a younger adolescent should have the choice to opt out of some visitations or vary from the schedule. Flexibility is the key at this stage.
| 28. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND alternating Mondays from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on the Monday following the weekend spent with the residential parent. |
| 29. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Thursday until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. AND each Monday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| 30. One parent shall have the child each Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. One parent shall have the child each Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
| 31. The parents shall alternate weeks and exchange the child on either Fridays or Sundays. |
At this age it is best to have a mutually agreed upon visitation schedule between the child and the non-residential parent. The child does not need frequent contact with either parent at this stage. Maximum flexibility is the key at this stage.
| 32. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. |
| 33. The non-residential parent shall have the child every other weekend from 4:00 p.m. on Thursday until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. |
| 34. A flexible alternate week exchange pattern. |
We recommend choose a visitation schedule that works for you. For more help developing a Washington parenting plan schedule for your child, see our recommended parenting plan visitation schedule book list.