Free - Ohio

DR610 Eff. 1/1/2000 Rev. 9/05

BUTLER COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT GUIDELINES FOR PARENTING TIME (FORMERLY KNOWN AS VISITATION) Children clearly profit by continued meaningful exposure to both parents. Children need the continuing and regular involvement of both parents to feel loved. No specific schedule will satisfy the change in needs of both children and parents over the years. Critical to the success of any schedule is that each parent be flexible to the changing needs of a child. Please remember, companionship is a dual right. It involves each parent=s right to share in the life of the child, and the child=s right to know both parents and to enjoy their companionship. If both parents remember the child=s interests, parenting time will be happier and more beneficial for all. If a child indicates a strong opposition to being with the non-residential parent, it shall be the responsibility of both parents to appropriately deal with the situation by calmly discussing with the child his or her reasons, and to work together to alleviate these misgivings without confrontation or argument. It is the absolute affirmative duty of each parent to foster an environment which avoids such problems, and to make certain that the children enjoy companionship with both parents. If there is a willful denial of companionship by either parent, the court may make a finding of contempt, and order appropriate sanctions, which may include incarceration, fine, and attorney fees. Further, a parent=s interference with the parenting time of the other parent may be considered a change of circumstances allowing the court to modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. It is recognized that each situation and each child is different, and it is preferred that parents tailor the parenting schedule to meet the specific needs of their children. In the event they cannot, the court has established the following minimum standard guidelines for parenting time. In all cases in which the parties incorporate these guidelines into a shared parenting plan, the person who is not designated the legal custodian for school purposes shall have the same parenting time schedule as the non-residential parent, as set out below: Parenting time between non-residential parents and children should not be less than: 1. 2. 3. Alternate weekends beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending Sunday at 6:00 p.m. On weeks when there is no weekend parenting time, Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Holidays: In odd-numbered years the Mother will have the child(ren) on: Spring Break: The child(ren)=s school schedule shall define the parenting time. If the child(ren) are not of school age, the public school schedule in the district where the residential parent for school purposes resides shall control. Parenting time should be from 5:00 p.m. on the last day of school prior to the Spring Break until 5:00 p.m. on the day before school resumes (or would resume if the children were of school age.) If Easter falls within Spring Break, it will be considered part of the break. If Easter does not fall within Spring Break, it will be celebrated according to the normal weekend rotation.

July 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Thanksgiving: The child(ren)=s school schedule shall define the parenting time. If the child(ren) are not of school age, then the public school schedule where the residential parent for school purposes resides shall control. Parenting time should be from 5:00 p.m. on the last day of school prior to the Thanksgiving break until 5:00 p.m. on the day before school resumes (or would resume if the children were of school age.) Christmas Day. If a parent=s holiday parenting time is Christmas Day, then that parent will also have the five full days following Christmas Day, i.e., from December 24 at 10:00 p.m. until December 30 at 6:00 p.m. In odd-numbered years the Father will have the child(ren) on: Memorial Day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Labor Day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve. If a parent=s holiday parenting time is Christmas Eve, then that parent will also have the five full days preceding Christmas Eve, i.e., from December 19 at 9:00 a.m. until December 24 at 10:00 p.m. If school is still in session, that parent is responsible for transporting the child(ren) to and from school. In the even-numbered years the above schedule will be reversed. Mother's Day will be spent with the mother from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Father's Day will be spent with the father from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 4. Child(ren)'s birthdays: In odd-numbered years the Mother will have the child(ren) on their birthday(s). In even-numbered years the Father will have the child(ren) on their birthday(s). If a child=s birthday falls on a school day, the parenting time shall take place after school until 8:00 p.m. During non-school time, birthday parenting time shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 5. Vacations: Each parent should have extended parenting time with the child(ren) for a period of four weeks during the summer, if the child(ren) are of school age. If the child(ren) are not of school age, the four-week vacation period may be scheduled at any time during the year. No more than two of the four weeks may be taken consecutively, unless otherwise agreed by the parents. Neither parent may schedule vacation parenting time which conflicts with the other parent=s holiday or birthday parenting time. Each parent must give the other parent not less than 60 days prior written notice of the dates he/she intends to exercise parenting vacation time. When vacation notices conflict, the first

notice received prevails. 6. Telephone contact: Each parent is entitled to reasonable (no more than once a day) phone contact with the child(ren) when the child(ren) are with the other parent for more than 24 hours. Both parents shall provide each other with their address and phone number. If parents remove the child(ren) from their residence overnight for holiday/vacation parenting time or any other purpose, the parents shall provide each other with an emergency telephone number where the child(ren) can be reached. 7. General rules regarding parenting time: Parenting time which cannot take place because of serious illness of the child(ren) will be made up at the same time the following week. The child(ren) and/or parent have no duty to await the other parent for more than thirty (30) minutes of the start of any parenting time. A parent late more than thirty (30) minutes shall forfeit the parenting time. When the holiday parenting time of a parent faIls on a Monday following that parent's regular weekend parenting time, then the parenting time will be continuous, i.e., the child(ren) will stay overnight on Sunday and return to the other parent on Monday at 7:00 p.m. When a conflict occurs between the holiday parenting time and the alternate weekend/Monday parenting time, the holiday parenting time will take precedence. 8. Exchange of child(ren)=s clothing/personal property: Neither parent shall restrict the child(ren) from taking those personal items which facilitate personal comfort and enjoyment to the home of the other parent. 9. Moving: NEITHER PARENT SHALL PERMANENTLY REMOVE THE CHlLD(REN) FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THIS COURT WITHOUT FIRST FILING A NOTICE OF RELOCATION. THIS NOTICE MUST BE SERVED ON THE NON-MOVING PARTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE DR 34. If either party feels the standard visitation schedule cannot be complied with due to the particular circumstances of the parties, said party may file an appropriate motion for relief.