Fall Break Parenting Time - Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines 2016

Before you can understand how Fall Break parenting time works in the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines you must be certain as to which version of the guidelines you follow.  There are (still) two versions of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines that parents may follow.  

If your parenting time order was issued before March 1, 2013 you likely follow the "old" guidelines, and if your parenting time order was entered after March 1, 2013, you likely follow the "new" guidelines.  For about which version you follow, see here. 

The "Old" Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines only assume one week of Spring Break and do not provide for Fall Break whatsoever.  

The "New" Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines do provide for Fall Break, and define both Spring Break and Fall Break in a manner which could be longer than a week.  The "New" Guideline language is as follows:

Spring Break. From two hours after the child is released from school on the child’s last day of school before Spring Break, and ending 7:00 p.m. on the last day before school begins again. 

Fall Break.  From two hours after the child is released from school on the child’s last day of school before Fall Break and ending 7:00 p.m. of the last day before school begins again.

Furthermore, the "New" Guidelines, suggest that if a child attends a school that has a year-round or balanced calendar, the noncustodial parent's extended parenting time shall be one-half of the time for fall and spring school breaks. Unless agreed otherwise, the noncustodial parent shall have the first half in off years, and the second half in even years. Additionally, the new guidelines state:

If the child attends a school with a year-round or balanced calendar, the noncustodial parent's parenting time should be adjusted so that the noncustodial parent and child spend at least as much time together as they would under a traditional school calendar.

The best way to deal with Fall Break parenting time, and possibly the impact of a balanced calendar on your child, is to customize your parenting time plan to deal with the new guidelines and calendar.  Doing so will likely require formal modification of the parenting time order with the Court that has jurisdiction of your case.

To discuss this further please contact me.  To check your school calendar, go to my Indiana Schools page here.