Parenting Time (Visitation)

Parenting  

time  

refers  

to  

the  

amount  

of  

time  

each  

parent  

spends  

with

the   

child   

and   

is   

distinct   

from   

the   

issue   

of   

custody.   

The   

issue   

of

parenting  

time  

often  

arises  

during  

divorce  

proceedings  

or  

when  

one  

of

the  

parties  

seeks  

to  

modify  

an  

existing  

parenting  

time  

order.  

If  

a  

client

is  

unable  

to  

reach  

agreement  

with  

their  

spouse  

on  

a  

parenting  

plan

through   

negotiation   

or   

mediation,   

the   

court   

must   

determine   

a

parenting  

time  

schedule  

based  

on  

the  

best  

interests  

of  

the  

children.  

In

the  

event  

of  

a  

divorce,  

the  

firm  

can  

assist  

clients  

with  

establishing  

an

equitable   

parenting   

time   

arrangement   

that   

safeguards   

the   

client’s

objectives  

and  

meets  

the  

needs  

of  

the  

children.  

Similarly,  

grandparents

and  

other  

trusted  

individuals  

may  

petition  

the  

court  

to  

assert  

visitation

rights  

with  

a  

child.  

The  

firm  

can  

also  

pursue  

modifications  

of  

existing

orders  

and  

protect  

a  

client’s  

parenting  

time  

interests  

under  

an  

existing

parenting time plan.