A 60/40 joint physical custody agreement means that your child will spend 60 percent of their time with one parent and 40 percent of their time with the other. This is a great schedule because it gives both parents a significant amount of time with the child but one parent has slightly more time.

Parents and/or the courts may choose to have this as a part of their parenting plan because of work schedules, child’s personality, or because they don’t want to split it equally.

There are a few things you want to be aware of if you or the other parent is seeking 60/40 physical custody.

First, with a 60/40 plan there may be more issues when paying child custody. Some states require you to pay child support based on the time you have or don’t have with the child. In this situation, you will have to pay more than if you had 50/50 physical custody. The only way to know what your state requires is to ask an attorney or research your state laws.

Second, look at the motivation for a 60/40 plan. Many parents try to push to get the 60 percent because they believe it will provide them a step up on the other parent. This is not always the case but you want to make sure the chosen custody schedule is because it is in the best interest of the child. You may also want to consult your attorney if you are worried about it.

Finally, be grateful for the time you are awarded. Some parents are upset if 60/40 is awarded and feel it should have been 50/50. Look at the bright side of being able to have you child as much as you do. There are many people who would love to have 60/40 custody.

4-3 Time Schedule

The 4-3 time schedule is probably one of the most popular choices under 60/40 joint physical custody. This schedule works by having your child spend 4 nights of the week with one parent and three nights a week with the other.

This schedule is very simple and can be adapted to fit your needs. For example, each parent can have the same nights each week or you can change the nights to fit work, school, or weekend schedules. This schedule is also referred to as an every weekend schedule if one parent has the child the three weekend nights.

The benefit of this plan is your child spends time frequently with both parents. They know you both love them and are committed to being their parent.

There are a few requirements to effectively implement this plan. You and the other parent will need to live in close proximity to each other and the child’s school. You will also need to be able to communicate well to update each other on school and other activities.

Make sure if you follow this plan, your child is old enough to handle going back and forth from home to home each week. Some kids really struggle with frequent change. You may want to consider other schedule options if this is the case.

Conclusion

60/40 physical custody with a 4-3 time schedule is a great option for you, the other parent, and your child. The biggest thing to think about when choosing a custody schedule, is to determine what is best for your child. No one knows a child and their needs more than the parents. Good luck!