Eight Child Custody Plan Timesharing Options (Children of School Age – Colorado)

Option 1. Every Other Weekend
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m.)
This parenting plan option establishes 12 days separation from the second parent. Divorce research indicates that this is too long for many children, and may diminish the second parent’s importance to the children — with fewer opportunities for involvement in their day-to-day, school and homework activities. In addition, this option provides little relief to the first parent from children responsibilities. This parenting plan option may be preferred, however, given the parents’ history of involvement with the children, available time for parenting, present parenting resources, or, as a transitional approach to timesharing.

Option 2. Every Other Weekend Plus Midweek Visit
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m.,
with every Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
This parenting plan option limits separation from the second parent to seven days. Adding the midweek transition could allow for more conflict on the transition back to the first parent’s home. Some second parents describe the evening only visit as too rushed with less time to adequately supervise homework and to “settle in.” This option may be one of a few workable ones with second parents having difficult work schedules, especially those with very early hours.

Option 3. Every Other Extended Weekend
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 8:00 a.m.)
This parenting plan option with its more expansive weekend for the second parent reduces the opportunity for parental conflict, and with one less transition, minimizes stress for the children. This option generally is not workable if the second parent resides far from the child’s school.

Option 4. Every Other Weekend Plus Midweek Overnight
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m., with Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to Thursday 8:00 a.m.)
This parenting plan option limits separation from the second parent to six days. It also allows for a broader opportunity for the second parent to supervise homework, and to participate in bedtime and waking rituals. The option’s transition at school after the midweek overnight avoids parental conflict. The midweek overnight also affords the first parent a regularly scheduled break in caretaking responsibilities.

Option 5. Every Other Extended Weekend Plus Midweek Overnight (Friday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 8:00 p.m.,
with Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to Thursday 8:00 a.m.)
This parenting plan option mirrors Option 4, but with a longer weekend, thus conferring more schoolwork and activity responsibility on the second parent. Again, the school or daycare pick ups and drop offs limit further, the opportunity for face-to-face parental conflict.

Option 6. Every Other Extended Weekend With Split Midweeks
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Monday 8:00 a.m., alternating; plus
with Parent A, every Monday after school to Wednesday 8:00 a.m.;
with Parent B, every Wednesday after school to Friday 8:00 a.m.)

This parenting plan option presents a two day / two day / five day / five day approach to timesharing, and limits separation from the other parent to five days (generally tolerated by children ages five or older). All transitions can take place at school or daycare to eliminate the opportunity for parental conflict. By establishing a consistent midweek residence routine, both parents get both midweek and weekend time allowing full involvement in their children’s work and play, and permitting relief from parenting on a predictable basis.

With this option (and with options 5, 7 and 8), it is important and desirable for the children to have clothing at both homes, and the materials and equipment that make their lives work well. Despite the number of transitions, many school age children (especially those six or seven years of age or older) find this parenting plan option satisfying, but it may be inappropriate with children with difficult temperament or learning disabilities.

Option 7. Every Weekend Split (alternating) and Every Midweek Split (assigned)
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to Saturday 6:00 p.m. (shown), or to Sunday 8:00 a.m, week one;
Saturday 6:00 p.m. or Sunday 8:00 a.m. to Monday 8:00 a.m., week two; plus
with Parent A, every Monday after school to Wednesday 8:00 a.m.;
with Parent B, with every Wednesday after school to Friday 8:00 a.m.)
This parenting plan option limits separation from the other parent to three days, but imposes more transitions. It may be more appropriate for preschool children than Option 6, and is sometimes found particularly workable as an interim schedule until children are five or six years of age.

Option 8.  Every Other Week
(Friday 6:00 p.m. to following Friday 8:00 a.m.)

This parenting plan option imposes seven days separation from the other parent, often quite difficult for children younger than six or seven years of age. It eliminates the opportunity for face-to-face parental conflict by minimizing transitions, and allows both parents and mature children to “settle” into a routine. The children’s cyclical residence can, of course, complicate management of scheduled lessons, activity commitments and daycare arrangements. Some adolescents may even prefer a schedule with two week blocks at each household.

• Note: changing households on Friday after school often works better than on the traditional Monday after school approach (allowing for a “winding-down” at the time of transition, rather than requiring “gearing-up” at that time).

Colorado Child Support Laws (overview)

COLORADO CHILD SUPPORT

Colorado child support is considered a right of the child and both parents have a duty to provide child support until the child is emancipated. Child support is calculated pursuant to a formula called the “Child Support Guidelines”. The guidelines are based on what the family would have spent for the child’s care had the parties not separated. Some of the factors considered in a support calculation include: the gross income of both parents and the child (if any), the age and needs of the child, and the child’s number of overnight visits with each parent.

In 2002 the Colorado State Legislature passed a new law, SB 21, which raised the Colorado child support guideline limits and also created new provisions for lower income earners. The child support laws in Colorado became effective on January 1, 2003. Some highlights of the law include the following:

1. There is a “low income adjustment” which applies to a party with the fewest number of overnights and an adjusted monthly income less than $1,850. This party’s share of the total obligation is calculated pursuant to a new mathematical formula.
2. There is a new “very low income adjustment” for cases where the party ordered to pay support has less than $850 adjusted monthly income. The minimum monthly obligation in these cases is limited to $50.
3. Extraordinary medical expenses now includes co-payments and deductible amounts that exceed a combined $250 per child per year.
4. The Federal Child Care Credit has changed from 35% to 20% for annual incomes, which are scaled up to more than $43k (formerly $28k).