Free Custody Schedule Maker

How to Use the Schedule Builder

Start by selecting a schedule pattern from the cards at the top of the tool. Each card shows the pattern name and a brief description of how the rotation works. Next, set your schedule start date — this is the date the rotation begins, and it determines which parent has which days going forward.

Personalize the schedule by entering each parent's name. The color-coded calendar updates instantly: blue days belong to one parent, orange days to the other. Use the arrow buttons to navigate forward or backward through the months.

Need to adjust a specific day? Click it to toggle it from one parent to the other. Customized days are marked with a dotted border so you can see which days differ from the base pattern. When you are done, hit Print Schedule to get a clean printout, or click Calculate Child Support to see how your overnight count affects support obligations.

Common Custody Schedule Patterns

Alternating Weeks (7/7)

The child spends a full week with one parent, then a full week with the other. This is the simplest equal-time schedule with only one transition per week. It works well for school-age children and teenagers who prefer stability, but the seven-day gap between visits can be challenging for younger children.

2-2-3 Rotation

The child spends 2 days with Parent A, 2 days with Parent B, then 3 days with Parent A. The next week, the pattern reverses. Neither parent goes more than 3 days without seeing the child, making it ideal for children under 8 who need frequent contact with both parents.

3-4-4-3 Schedule

Over a two-week cycle, one parent gets 3 days and then 4 days, while the other gets 4 days and then 3 days. This strikes a balance between the simplicity of alternating weeks and the frequency of the 2-2-3, with each parent getting some longer stretches.

5-2-2-5 Schedule

Five days with one parent, then two days with the other, then two days with the first parent, then five with the second. This provides longer blocks of time with each parent, which can reduce the disruption of frequent transitions.

4-3 Fixed Schedule

Every week follows the same split: 4 days with one parent, 3 with the other. While not perfectly equal, this schedule offers consistency — the same days of the week are always with the same parent, simplifying planning for work, school, and activities.

Every Other Weekend (EOW)

The child lives primarily with one parent during the week, spending every other weekend (Friday evening through Sunday) with the other parent. This results in roughly an 80/20 or 85/15 split and is common when one parent is the primary caretaker.

EOW + Midweek Overnight

Builds on the every-other-weekend pattern by adding one midweek overnight with the non-primary parent, typically on Wednesday. This increases the non-primary parent's time to about 25-30% and ensures the child maintains a mid-week connection.

Month On / Month Off

Each parent has the child for a full month at a time. This schedule is typically reserved for long-distance or military families where frequent transitions are impractical. It provides extended stability in each home but means long separations from the other parent.

Customizing Your Schedule

No two families are exactly alike, and a rigid rotation pattern rarely works for every week of the year. The schedule builder lets you click any individual day to override the pattern. Common reasons to customize include:

• Holidays and school breaks — assign Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer vacation days to alternate between parents each year.
• Birthdays — ensure the child spends their birthday (or a celebration day) with each parent in alternating years.
• Work travel — when one parent has a business trip, shift those days to the other parent.
• Special events — recitals, sporting events, or family reunions may warrant a temporary schedule change.

Customized days appear with a dotted border on the calendar and are counted in the overnight statistics. You can clear all customizations at any time to return to the base pattern.

From Schedule to Parenting Plan

A visual schedule is a great starting point, but it needs to become part of a legally enforceable parenting plan (sometimes called a custody order or parenting time order). Here is how the schedule builder fits into that process:

1. Build your schedule using this tool and print it out.
2. Discuss with the other parent — share the printout or screenshot to align on the rotation.
3. Calculate financial impact — use the "Calculate Child Support" button to see how overnight counts affect support payments in your state.
4. Draft the parenting plan — work with a family law attorney or mediator to formalize the schedule, including holiday provisions, right of first refusal, and communication protocols.
5. File with the court — submit the agreed-upon plan for judicial approval, making it a binding court order.

Remember that courts prioritize the child's best interests. An overnight count alone does not determine custody — factors like each parent's living situation, work schedule, proximity to the child's school, and the child's own preferences (for older children) all play a role.

Frequently Asked Questions