Custody schedule
The Alternating weekends schedule
The child lives primarily with one parent and spends every other weekend with the other.
86/14
overnight split14
night cycle313
nights a year (parent A)The rotation
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | A | A | A | B | B | A |
| 2 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
About that numberThis figure counts the weekend rotation only. Most alternating-weekend plans also split holidays and give the other parent two to four weeks in summer, which brings the real annual share closer to 20% — the figure usually quoted for this schedule.
Who it tends to suit
Families where one parent has been the primary caregiver, where work schedules don't allow more, or as a starting point that steps up over time.
The honest trade-off
Long the default in American courts, and still the most common order — but twelve days can pass between weekends, and the weekend parent rarely sees a school night or a homework fight. Most plans soften it with a midweek dinner.
Exchanges
Friday after school to Sunday evening is the standard block.
Also called: every other weekend, EOW, standard visitation.
Build a plan with this schedule Count the overnights