Custody schedules lay the groundwork for effective co-parenting. Explore the pros and cons of the 70/30 plan, compare 70/30 against other schedules, and download free templates. Gain expert insight to determine if 70/30 suits your family’s needs.
Inside this article:
A 70/30 custody schedule is a co-parenting arrangement where one parent has the child 70% of the time while the other has 30%. This schedule has become less common than others over the past 50 years.
A 70/30 custody schedule is an alternative to joint equal parenting schedules like 50/50 or 60/40 plans. In a 70/30 plan, one parent has substantially more time than the other parent. This can work well for families who cannot split time equally.
Key Takeaways
Many factors affect which schedule the co-parents select. Co-parents may start with one schedule and switch to another as circumstances change. In general, most co-parents hope to make a 50/50 custody schedule work. This joint custody schedule feels attractive because it tries to split parenting time down the middle, giving each co-parent equal parenting time. However, many co-parents can’t feasibly maintain a 50/50 schedule for various reasons.
“Some situations that prevent a 50/50 schedule are simply unavoidable,” says Family Law Attorney Samuel J. Berse . “For example, perhaps geographical distance or work commitments interfere with one parent’s ability to exercise 50/50 parenting time.”
Co-parents who can’t maintain a 50/50 tend to compromise with 60/40 split custody, which gives one co-parent primary physical custody with 60% of the co-parenting time. If the 60/40 split still creates logistical problems, co-parents may land on a 70/30 split.
“A 70/30 parenting time schedule, where one parent has two overnights every week, is a common arrangement designed to prioritize practicality over equal parenting time, especially when factors such as geographical distance or work commitments come into play,” Berse says.
Here's how Family Law Attorney Julie Colton describes the difference between schedules like 50/50 and 70/30:
“Primary physical custody is when a parent has more than 50% of the custodial overnights. Partial physical custody is when a parent has less than 50% of the custodial overnights. Therefore, a 70/30 custody arrangement would be a primary/partial custody arrangement. This means that one parent has primary physical custody, and the other parent has partial physical custody.”
Like Berse, Colton points out that the 70/30 schedule usually arises out of necessity. “Usually, co-parents take on a primary/partial schedule like 70/30 when they are dealing with logistical constraints. For example, when parents live more than 30 to 40 minutes from the child’s school, a shared custody schedule (50/50) is less practical.”
Colton adds that it is important to note that the physical custody schedule does not affect the legal custody arrangements, which designates decision-making responsibilities for a child. “Parents with a 70/30 physical custody schedule still usually have a shared legal custody agreement,” says Colton.
Although this schedule was popular in the 1970s, many experts don’t recommend it because it gives one co-parent significantly more time with the children. Also, the available 70/30 scheduling options can be difficult to implement.
“Determining which parent should have primary physical custody of a child and what particular parenting time schedule should be implemented can be quite complicated in the light of life’s day-to-day variabilities,” says Family law attorney Peter Stambleck . “A straightforward implementation of a 70/30 child custody schedule would give the non-custodial parent two overnight visitations per week. This arrangement is imbalanced and not a true form of shared parenting. Clients very rarely agree to a 70/30 custody spilt, unless it is the most appropriate schedule to ensure that they continue to provide a lifestyle that is best for their child.”
Still, the 70/30 may be suitable for co-parents who live far apart or for children who prefer having a consistent home base for much of the week. As with any parenting plan, the suitability of a 70/30 arrangement depends on how your family’s circumstances affect the realities of day-to-day life.
Stambleck puts it best: “Every family is different, and a child custody agreement needs to address the existing and anticipated needs of the family clearly and specifically. There are many factors to consider, including but not limited to the needs of the children, their ages, each co-parent’s availability, location, and other commitments that may affect the ability to care for the children.”
Co-parents with a 70/30 schedule usually split the week with a 5-2 schedule where one co-parent has the child for the school week, and the other takes weekends. Alternatives include swapping every third week or having more frequent exchanges every third day.
Berse describes the 70/30 parenting schedule like this: “A 70/30 parenting schedule involves one parent having two overnights per week (equivalent to 104 overnights per year), while the other parent has five overnights a week (260 overnights per year). Typically, co-parents divide this arrangement where one co-parent has the children during the school week and the other co-parent has them either every other weekend or most weekends (such as three weekends per month or four weekends per month in months with five weekends). Additionally, many co-parents allocate extra time during the summer for the parent with 30% custody.”
“A partial physical custody schedule is often every other weekend from Friday after school until Monday start of school, along with some weekday time,” says Colton. “The time during the week may be an overnight on the non-weekend week or an overnight each week. The weekday time may just be a few hours for dinner.”
Experts recommend mapping out a 70/30 schedule in two-week blocks. Dividing 14 days into a 70/30 split means the co-parent with 70% custody should receive around ten days and nights, and the co-parent with 30% should receive the remaining four days and nights. This approach gives co-parents a broad view of the schedule and allows for easy comparison between 70/30 and other common custody schedules.
For the parent with 30% custody or partial custody, Colton adds that some situations require that time to be supervised. “Where there is an issue with a substance use disorder or untreated mental health issues that cause a risk the child, then there may be a need for supervised custody.” She adds that this may be a temporary solution: “A parent who is addressing issues of substance use disorder and/or untreated mental health problems that are negatively affecting the child may find themselves with a partial physical custody schedule while any safety concerns for the children are being addressed.”
In a 70/30 custody schedule, one parent has the child about 70% of the time, while the other has them 30%. In a 60/40 plan, one parent has the child 60% of the time, and the other parent has them 40%.
In a 14-day block, a 60/40 custody schedule typically allocates eight days to the co-parent with 60% custody and six days to the co-parent with 40% custody. 60/40 parenting plans often use a 3-4 weekly schedule, alternating custody in four-day and three-day blocks.
On the other hand, a 70/30 split provides the parent with primary custody with significantly more time with the children. Instead of a 3-4 weekly schedule, a 70/30 split typically utilizes a 5-2 split variation.
Berse says co-parents often adopt the 70/30 parenting schedule by necessity, typically due to the work schedules. "A 70/30 schedule is commonplace when it's simply not feasible for one parent to have weekday overnights during the children's school year,” he says. “Co-parents usually adopt this schedule because it's practical.”
A 70/30 custody schedule involves one parent having the child 70% of the time while the other parent has them 30% of the time. An 80/20 custody schedule means one parent has the child 80% of the time while the other parent has them 20% of the time.
In a 14-day block, an 80/20 custody schedule allocates 11 days to the co-parent with 80% custody. It is common for co-parents to follow an assigned weekend custody schedule, where the child spends pre-determined weekends each month with the non-custodial co-parent.
In the 80/20 arrangement, the primary custodial parent assumes 80% of the parenting time, representing a 10% increase over the 70/30 plan. The decision between the two plans depends on the co-parents’ circumstances and the child’s best interests.
The most common 70/30 custody schedules include the 5-2, every-third-week, and every-third-day schedules. Co-parents can also make custom 70/30 schedules that account for third-party time and change schedules during holidays or the summer.
Here’s a summary of the different 70/30 custody schedules.
• Every weekend custody schedule
In the every-weekend custody schedule, the child will spend every weekend with the co-parent with 30% custody. Then, they will spend the school week with the other co-parent. Co-parents typically keep Fridays and Sunday afternoons as exchange days. This schedule is the most common variation of the 5-2 split.
The every-weekend schedule works well when one co-parent has demanding weekday schedules or work commitments. This schedule provides stability and routine for the child. However, it may create conflict because only one co-parent will have weekend time.
• 5-2 custody schedule
In the 5-2 schedule, the co-parent with 70% custody has the child for five days, and the co-parent with 30% custody has the remaining two days. When co-parents start this schedule on Sunday night, the primary custodial parent has the school week until Friday when their child goes to school, so the schedule becomes the every-weekend schedule.
Co-parents can start the 5-2 schedule on any day. This schedule provides routine and consistency for the child and reduces transitions. Also, co-parents can align this schedule to work best with work or school commitments. However, co-parents may find themselves in conflict over allocating weekend time.
• Every third week custody schedule
In the every-third-week custody schedule, the child spends two weeks with the 70% co-parent, followed by one full week with the other co-parent. This arrangement can be suitable for parents in long-distance co-parenting situations or those with unique circumstances that call for extended periods with each parent. This schedule also minimizes transitions for the child and can contribute to a sense of stability.
However, the extended time apart may pose challenges in the relationship between the child and non-custodial co-parent.
• Every third day custody schedule
An every-third-day custody schedule, where the child transitions between co-parents every third day, provides frequent and consistent contact with both parents. This arrangement works best for parents who live close to each other and have flexible schedules. The benefits include regular involvement of both parents in the child's life, maintaining a strong bond with each co-parent, and reducing the sense of separation. However, challenges may arise with the increased transitions, potentially impacting the child's sense of stability and routine and logistical considerations for both co-parents. Most experts do not recommend this arrangement because it is disruptive and doesn’t provide the child with stability or a routine schedule.
• Custom 70/30 parenting plans:
Co-parents have the flexibility to design a personalized 70/30 plan that caters to their unique circumstances. One approach is to divide a 14-day period, allowing the 70% co-parent to have any ten days while the 30% co-parent takes four days. This customization empowers parents to seek a balance that aligns with their situations, fostering a healthy co-parenting dynamic. By tailoring the schedule, co-parents can ensure a structure that supports the well-being of their children while accommodating their own needs and responsibilities.
“One of the major disadvantages of a 70/30 parenting schedule is that one parent has substantially more time with the children,” says Stambleck. “Co-parents can make this plan more balanced by adding additional parenting time during holidays, vacation time, school break, and during the summer.”
The following schedules factor in third-party time, holidays, and summer into the 70/30 plan.
• Alternating weekends custody schedule (considering third-party time)
Alternating weekends give 70% of custodial parents every other weekend, plus the weekdays. Co-parents can also calculate the 70/30 split based on their time with the child, excluding third-party time spent with teachers or caregivers. Accounting for the third-party time can grant the 70% co-parent an additional weekend, reinforcing the 70/30 split.
• 70/30 plans that account for holidays and summers
Some co-parents opt for a more flexible approach to parenting schedules during summer breaks, holidays, or vacations. During these periods, co-parents may intentionally allocate additional time to the 30% co-parent. This thoughtful consideration allows the children to have more quality time with the 30% co-parent, helping to address any imbalance from regular weeks and fostering a stronger relationship between the child and the 30% co-parent. This adaptable approach requires that co-parents spend more time tailoring their schedule but promotes a healthier co-parenting dynamic and prioritizes the well-being of the children.
When choosing a 70/30 parenting schedule, it is crucial to consider significant factors that may affect how the plan works. For example, consider the child's age and needs, the distance between co-parents, the parents’ work schedules, and the level of conflict between co-parents.
A standardized custody agreement won’t accommodate the diverse circumstances and preferences of different families. A personalized approach, where co-parents work together to understand and adapt to specific circumstances, is essential in selecting the right parenting schedule.
Choosing a custody schedule involves multiple factors, which can cause conflicts. For example, co-parents of a young child might lean toward a 5-2 plan to foster regular interactions. However, if they live far apart, implementing a 5-2 schedule can present logistical obstacles. In making these decisions, the child’s well-being must always take precedence.
While there is much to consider when evaluating custody arrangements, here is breakdown of four key factors to consider before choosing 70/30 schedule:
For instance, a seminal review from 2004, Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development , underscores the importance of secure attachment with both parents. The paper emphasizes that just like in early childhood, secure attachment in adolescence profoundly impacts development, fostering exploration and the development of cognitive, social, and emotional competence. These findings emphasize the significance of maintaining strong bonds with both parents throughout a child's development to support their overall well-being and optimal growth.
When selecting a 70/30 schedule, consider your child’s age, the distance between co-parents, work schedules, and school commitments. Be sure to prioritize your child’s well-being, and ask them for input.
Here's a quick checklist of questions to consider when determining if a 70/30 custody schedule would suit your family. Remember that your child's best interests should always be the primary guiding consideration.
