In Oklahoma, standard visitation refers to the typical visitation schedule established by the court when parents cannot agree on custody and visitation for their child. Although Oklahoma presumes that Joint or shared custody is in the best interest of the child its not always possible. There are situations where the parents agree on a standard visitation schedule or where the court determines that its in the child best interest. Oklahoma typically aims to ensure that both parents have regular and meaningful contact with their child.
Factors that contribute to exactly what a standard visitation schedule looks like may depend on the age of the child or the distance the parents live from each other. Those factors are true in both divorce cases and paternity cases that involve unwed parents. A common visitation schedule in Oklahoma might include:
Every Other Weekend:
The non-custodial parent (the parent who does not have primary physical custody) typically has visitation with the child every other weekend, from Friday evening to Sunday evening or Monday morning. This can be flexible depending on the parents and the child’s schedule. Sometimes pickups are done at the child’s school or where ever the parents can agree on.
One Evening During the Week:
In addition to weekends, the non-custodial parent may have visitation with the child for one evening during the week, such as Wednesday evening. Once again the exact times is up to the parents and takes on a more practical approach. Where the visitation takes place is also left to the parents discretion. The key is that the during the week visitation is not usually overnight.
Holidays and Vacations:
The standard visitation schedule may also include provisions for holidays and school breaks, such as alternating major holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas) or splitting school vacations. Normally the parents will alternate major holidays with each parent getting a major holiday on alternating years. Its also common for parents to split the day between them or to make any agreement that works best for their child.
Summer Or Spring Breaks:
A standard visitation schedule normally gives the non-custodial parent an expanded visitation period during the summer or for spring or fall breaks. This is most common when the parents do not live close to each other so a normal visitation schedule isn’t always possible. The exact length of the summer visitation depends on a few factors that might look at how much visitation the noncustodial parent gets with the child throughout the year. Once again the summer visitation is flexible and left to the parents when they can agree.
Other Considerations:
It’s important to note that the standard visitation schedule is not one-size-fits-all, and the court may modify the schedule based on the specific circumstances of the case and the best interests of the child. Additionally, parents can agree to deviate from the standard visitation schedule through a mutually agreed-upon parenting plan or custody agreement, which the court may approve if it is in the child’s best interests.
If parents are unable to agree on custody and visitation arrangements, the court will make a determination based on the child’s best interests, taking into account factors such as the child’s age and developmental needs, the relationship between the child and each parent, the stability of each parent’s home environment, and any history of domestic violence or substance abuse.
Tulsa Custody and Visitation Your Way:
In custody and visitations case in Oklahoma or anywhere else in the country depends on many different factors. Each case is unique and requires some give and take on the part of all those involved. The custody attorneys at Tulsa Divorce Attorneys and Associates have helped thousands of families just like yours work through the complexities of child custody and visitations. For a Free and compassionate consultation with a Tulsa visitation attorney call us today at 539.302.0303 or click here to ask an online family law question.