Shared Physical Care Parenting Time Schedules
Shared physical care/custody where the children spend relatively equal time in both parents’ homes is becoming more and more common. Shared physical care parenting time schedules vary from family to family. One of the more common schedules involves the children rotating between the parents homes on a weekly basis (with the opposite parent having one evening of mid-week visitation). Other common schedules are as follows:
5/5/2/2 Shared Physical Care Parenting Schedule
************SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
WEEK 1 MOM MOM MOM DAD DAD DAD DAD
WEEK 2 DAD MOM MOM DAD DAD MOM MOM
WEEK 3 MOM MOM MOM DAD DAD DAD DAD
WEEK 4 DAD MOM MOM DAD DAD MOM MOM
Iowa Supreme Court Held Husband was Properly Awarded Joint Physical Care
The Iowa Supreme Court held that father was properly awarded joint physical care notwithstanding mother’s testimony alleging communication problems and the parties contentious relationship. The court gave deference to the district court’s finding that mother’s testimony lacked credibility. The court noted that the children had thrived under the joint physical care arrangement for the past two years, i.e. the daughter was doing well in school, the son was developing well for his age, both children benefited from frequent contact with both parents, and both parents had been actively involved in caring for the children and their activities. Accordingly, the Supreme Court held that joint legal custody and shared physical care were in the best interests of the children. In re Marriage Harris, No. 12-1969 (Iowa 2013).