Indiana parenting time guidelines are for you as a single parent or when you and your partner are not living together because of one issue or the other?
The Indiana parenting time guidelines have made it easy for parents who live differently as a result of misunderstanding to share their time individually for their children.
In the settlement, parents decide and agree to a parenting schedule that they submit to the court for approval. Most times the Indiana parenting time guidelines are used.
This parenting guideline was made by the Indiana court to guide each parent on why and how they should spend quality time with their kids. It is often part of a parenting plan which details the co-parenting rules.
Both parents have to make out individual time for their child irrespective of how busy their schedule looks.
It is a responsibility you owe that child regardless of what may have made you parent individually to spend your time with them.
What more?
Indiana parenting time guidelines were adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court after it was drafted by the Domestic Relations Committee. It was adopted by the Board of the Judicial Conference of Indiana.
All subsequent amendments were presented by the Domestic Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana, as the parenting time rule and guidelines of the court.
According to the preamble of the Indiana parenting time guidelines;
it is usually in a child’s best interest to have meaningful frequent and continuing contact with each parent. Both parents should nurture their child in an important way significant to the development and well-being of the child.
The guidelines also acknowledge that scheduling parenting times are more difficult when separate households are involved and require persistent effort and communication between parents.
Furthermore, the purpose of these guidelines is to provide a model which may be adjusted depending upon the unique needs and circumstances of each family.
How Indiana parenting time guidelines were made?
The Indiana parenting time guidelines were developed by the members of the Domestic Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana after reviewing the current and relevant literature concerning violation.
The visitation guidelines of different geographical areas, the input of child development experts, and family law practitioners were also reviewed.
Data was collected from the committee members from surveys of judges, attorneys, and mental health professionals who worked with children. A review of court files and a public hearing were also reviewed to make the Indiana parenting time guidelines.
When is it applicable?
The Indiana parenting guidelines apply to all child custody situations, including maternity cases and cases involving joint legal custody where one parent has primary physical custody.
However, they are not applicable in some situations such as in situations involving family violence, substance abuse, or the risk of a fight with the child. This is because the child is not safe in this environment and it is beyond the scope of these guidelines.
Also, it does not apply to any other circumstances the court believes will endanger the child’s physical health and safety or impair the child’s emotional development.
In cases like this, one or both parents may have legal or psychological substance abuse or emotional problems that need to be addressed before these guidelines can be utilized.
What does Indiana parenting time guidelines entail
The Indiana parenting time guidelines just as the name implies contain guidelines, times, and rules of how each parent should visit their children.
It was formerly called the “visitation schedule” because it contains when your child lives and spends time with each parent.
It explains that each parent should recognize and address a child’s basic needs when both parents do not live together.
These basic needs explain that a child has the right to have a relaxed, secured, independent relationship with each parent without having to side with either parent.
How is it divided
The Indiana parenting time guidelines are divided into five sections. Each section explains everything that each parent needs to know about the Indian parenting guidelines.
Section one
This section comprises the general rules applicable to parenting time. It also explains how each parent should communicate among themselves and to the child and how to implement parenting time.
Furthermore, it explains what each parent should do if there are changes in scheduled parenting time. How information should be exchanged and how problems and relocation should be resolved.
Section two
Section two of the Indiana parenting time contains the specific parenting time provisions. It explains how parenting time should be shared if the child is a toddler or an infant, is of 3 years or older, or an adolescent or a teenager. It further shares the parenting schedule when the child is on holiday.
Section three
This section explains how parenting should be done by each parent when distance is a major factor.
Section four
This section of the parenting time guidelines is a deviation from sections I, II, and III. It encourages parallel parenting in cases where the parents are of high conflict. A parallel parenting plan court order is necessary to stop the ongoing conflict.
Section five
Section five introduces parenting coordination. Here, a parenting coordinator is appointed to assist high conflict parties. This is because both parents have an ongoing disagreement and conflict which centers on how to care for the child, a parenting schedule, or any other issue that may adversely affect the child.
Conclusion
The Indiana parenting time guideline was made by the Indiana rule of court to aid parents who do not live together on rules and guidelines to take as they parent individually.
This schedule allows each parent considerable time with the child to fulfill a child’s basic needs. The guidelines also help judges decide schedules when parents are in disagreement. Parents can choose to follow the guideline if it works for them.
However, if both parents have effective communication amongst themselves or if they are in agreement with each other, they can choose to make their parenting schedule. This way they can agree on what works best for them.