Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines: A Guide for Parenting after Separation

January 22, 2022March 19, 2023 Hifazet

Background of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

Children suffered most when their parents are separated. It becomes really difficult to stay in contact with both parents and have the attention, care and love of both the parents. This situation affects the overall development of children of separated parents. Indiana Supreme Court approved the amended version of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines on March 1, 2013. This is an amazing model to follow in the cases of separated parents. The best interests of the child are the main focus of these guidelines. It is the focus of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines that children should not suffer because of the decision of separation by the parents.

Parenting Process and Needs of Children

Parenting is an important process to fulfill the developmental needs of children. Both parents have an important role in fulfilling the security, physical, psychological, and all other needs of children such as shelter, food, care and education, etc. Regular contact with both parents is important

Conflict Between Custodial and Non-custodial Parents

Indiana parenting time guidelines emerged because of unresolved and continuous conflicts between custodial and non-custodial parents. These scheduled parenting time guidelines provide an age & development appropriate framework to address the needs of children related to parenting.

Parenting Coordinator

According to Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, a parenting coordinator will be appointed to coordinate the process and procedure mentioned in Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Qualifications for parenting coordinator are specified in the guidelines.

Use of term ‘Parenting Time’ instead of ‘Visitation Time’ in India Parenting Time Guidelines

Children have the right to care and the attention of both parents. Similarly, both parents have the right and responsibility to provide care, love and attention to their children. The term ‘visitation’ is replaced with ‘parenting time’ in the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines to express the real importance of both parents in the process of parenting.

Concept of Minimum Time In Indiana Parenting time Guidelines

In the best of a child, these guidelines defined the minimum time required to be spent by parents with children. This time schedule varies according to the development stage and age of a child. However, parents can spend more time than decided in these guidelines.

Planning a year-long Parenting Plan or Calendars

With consensus and consultation, parents can design a parenting plan for a year. This parenting plan should consider ongoing schooling of children, vacations, birthdays and other important events and aspects related to children. Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines encourage parents to create such plans or calendars.

Communication and Contact with Children

Children have the right to stay in contact with both custodial and non-custodial parents. Non-custodial parents can stay in contact with children through email, electronically, or telephonically. A custodial parent can not refuse this right to contact or the privacy of a child while communicating with the non-custodial parent.

Exchange of information about Children

Both parents should exchange information regarding health, education, schooling, activities and any other important matter with each other.

Shared Parenting

Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines encourage shared parenting. Shared parenting is in the best interests of a child and it is also good for both parents. Custodial parents get the opportunity to share the responsibilities and non-custodial parents get the opportunity to continuously stay in contact with children even after separation. Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide the opportunity for both parents to stay in contact with children and look after all the needs of children in a shared way.

Parenting when there is Distance between Children and Non-Custodial Parent

Even when distance is a serious issue, Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide appropriate guidelines to design a parenting plan for staying in contact with children effectively and regularly in a way that does not affect their education and growth.

Is it Mandatory to follow the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines?

Indiana Supreme Court declared it mandatory to follow the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines for both parents. These guidelines are forced in the best interests of a child. Violation of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines is considered contempt of court.

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Aspects Considered in Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

Age and development stage of a child is considered while creating the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Other factors considered in Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines include temperament and maturity level of the child, child’s current routine cycle, emotional and physical needs of child, parents temperament, parents’ mental health, parents flexibility and willingness, parent-child relationship, parents’ ability to address the conflict with each other and issues related to the environment.

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