Free Visitation Schedule - Arkansas

GENERAL CHILD VISITATION SCHEDULE for the First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas
(Approved by Judge Kathleen Bell, Judge Bentley E. Story, and Judge Ann Hudson) (Revised June 18, 2008, & Effective January 1, 2009)

The following general visitation will be awarded to the non-custodial parent, absent modification by the Court in any particular case: 1. Weekends: The non-custodial parent's weekend visitation shall be the first and third weekends of each month. The custodial parent will have the child(ren) on the second and fourth weekends of each month. The parties will alternate the fifth weekend of each month. If the first day of the month falls on a Saturday, that weekend is considered as the first weekend of the month. If the first day of the month falls on a Sunday, that weekend is not considered as the first weekend of the month. The last day of the month must fall on a Saturday or a Sunday in order for that weekend to be considered as a fifth weekend. Visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays and continue until 5:00 p.m. on Sundays, unless otherwise ordered by the court or agreed to, in writing, by the parties. 2. Weekdays: The non-custodial parent shall have visitation with the child(ren) on the first Thursday and the second Tuesday immediately following the non-custodial parent's weekend visitation period. This visitation period will be from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The non-custodial parent shall ensure (1) that the child(ren) complete any school homework assignments, (2) that the child(ren) eat dinner, and (3) that the child(ren) receive baths. The distance between the homes of the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent will affect whether this visitation may be exercised. This paragraph applies only in cases in which the parents live within fifteen (15) miles of each other. 3. Alternate Major Holidays (In odd-numbered years, Easter, July 4th, and Thanksgiving; in even-numbered years, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day): The non-custodial parent's visitation will be as follows: 3.1. Easter visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before Easter and continue until Easter Sunday at 8:00 p.m. 3.2. July 4th visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on July 3rd and continue until 8:00 p.m. on July 4th. If, however, July 4th occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before July 4th and continue until Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

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3.3. Thanksgiving visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day and continue until Sunday at 8:00 p.m. 3.4. Martin Luther King Day will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before Martin Luther King Day and continue until Martin Luther King Day at 8:00 p.m. 3.5. Memorial Day will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day and continue until Memorial Day at 8:00 p.m. 3.6. Labor Day will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before Labor Day and continue until Labor Day at 8:00 p.m. 3.7. If the child(ren)'s school grants extra days for any holiday, the non-custodial parent's visitation will coincide with the school break. Holiday visitation shall take precedence over the regular weekend visitation schedule found in paragraph 1 above, so that a party may lose a regular weekend visitation to another parties' holiday weekend. No make-up time will be given. Weekend visitations will not be adjusted if a weekend visitation is missed/lost because of other visitations set forth in this schedule. 4. Spring Break: Spring break visitation for the non-custodial parent will coincide with the spring school break exercised by the local school where the child(ren) live even if they are not of school age. Spring break shall be considered as a holiday. The noncustodial parent will have spring break visitation on even-numbered years. The spring break period shall begin at 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the beginning of the school break, unless otherwise ordered by the court or agreed to, in writing, by all the parties. If (1) it is non-custodial parent's time to enjoy spring break with the child(ren), and (2) if it begins on a Monday, and (3) if the non-custodial parent's weekend visitation is the weekend before spring break begins, then the non-custodial parent's weekend visitation and spring break will run consecutively and without a break. If (1) it is the custodial parent's time to enjoy spring break with the child(ren), and (2) if the non-custodial parent's weekend visitation is not the weekend before spring break begins but rather the weekend after spring break ends, then the custodial parent's spring break will terminate at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. 5. Christmas: If none of the children are in school, the non-custodial parent's visitation will be as follows: one week prior to Christmas, ending at 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve; or commencing at 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve and continuing for one week thereafter. If at least one of the children is in school, the non-custodial parent's visitation for all children will commence the day after the school goes into recess for the Christmas holiday, and will continue until 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve; or commence at 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve and continue until 1:00 p.m. on the day prior to the resumption of classes. In even-numbered years, the non-custodial parent will exercise the pre-Christmas visitation period and in oddnumbered years, the non-custodial parent will exercise the post-Christmas visitation period.

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6. Father's Day and Mother's Day: The father of the child(ren) will always have visitation the weekend of Father's day regardless of which parent would normally have the child(ren) for that weekend. The mother of the child(ren) will always have visitation the weekend of Mother's day regardless of which parent would normally have the child(ren) for that weekend. Father's Day and Mother's Day visitation will commence at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before and will continue until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. 7. Birthdays: The non-custodial parent will have the child in odd-numbered years. The parent who does not have the child in his/her care on the child's birthday shall be allowed to personally present his/her present to the child on the day of the child's birthday. 8. Summer visitation: The non-custodial parent's summer visitation will be for a six (6) weeks period; however, no more than two weeks will be exercised continuously without at least a one-week break. If the court rules, orders, and directs a summer visitation period which is more or less than six weeks such ruling must be set forth by an order which clearly reflects that the six weeks period set forth in this General Child Visitation Schedule is not effective as to this particular case. Notice of the time and manner of visitation requested by the non-custodial parent will be provided at least forty-five (45) days in advance of the exercise of visitation. Every effort should be made by the parties to coordinate their vacation schedules in order that the child(ren) will have the opportunity to spend vacation time with both parents. Summer visitation, in the past, has traditionally been considered to be during the months of June, July, and August. Current school summer vacations begin in mid-May and end in mid-August. This must be taken into consideration in setting summer visitation periods. If the child(ren) are to be removed from the state for vacation, the other parent must be notified as to the destination and a telephone number provided where the child(ren) may be reached. 9. Other visitation periods: The visitation noted above will be in addition to all other reasonable visitation. The parties are encouraged to set aside their differences and to work together to ensure a healthy relationship between the child(ren) and both parents. In the event the non-custodial parent shall be unable to exercise a scheduled visitation, or will be late, he or she shall, as quickly as is practical, contact the custodial parent and advise as to the cancellation or length of delay. 10. Independent obligations to allow visitation and to pay child support: Visitation may not be independently terminated by the custodial parent for any reason, including non-payment of child support; likewise, child support shall not be withheld by the non-custodial parent because of the custodial parent's refusal to allow visitation. Immediate, written notification to the opposing party must be provided regarding any suspension or termination of visitation due to an emergency due to an emergency. 11. Contact information: Both parties will provide current addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses at which the child(ren) may be reasonably accessed by mail, telephone, or email at reasonable times. Page 3 of 4

12. Telephonic communications: Both parties shall ensure that the child(ren) have the opportunity to communicate via telephone and email with the other parent at all reasonable times. No parent should listen in on the conversation between parent and child(ren). 13. Modification of schedule: This visitation schedule can be modified by the parties only by written agreement, and signed by the parties prior to the agreed change. Unless the writing clearly states that a change is permanent, any change in the schedule will be considered as temporary, one-time, deviation from the schedule. No verbal agreement, of any kind or nature, will be recognized by the court under any circumstances. 14. Ordinary daily duties of non-custodial parent during visitation: The noncustodial parent shall make every effort to ensure that the child(ren)'s daily routine is interrupted as little as possible. For example, if the child is involved in baseball, the child should be taken to his/her ball games and to his/her practice. For example, if the child is involved in the school play, the child should be taken to school play practices. The noncustodial parent shall ensure that homework assignments are completed, meals are prepared, teeth are brushed, clean clothes are worn, and baths are given. 15. Negative remarks: Neither parent shall make negative or derogatory statements or remarks about the other in the presence of the child(ren). The parents should not allow the child(ren) to remain in the presence of third parties who make negative or derogatory statements or remarks about the other parent. 16. Violation of court order: Violation of the visitation as awarded may result in the imposition of a fine, jail sentence, the termination of custody and/or visitation, or such other action deemed appropriate by the court. Child(ren) shall not be permitted nor required to make decision regarding visitation and the custodial parent is charged with the duty and responsibility to insure compliance with the visitation schedule. 17. Nothing follows as of the date shown above.

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