Appendix C.Sample parenting time guidelines

Last amended January 1, 2023 · Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceAppendix C sets out sample parenting time guidelines — every other weekend plus a midweek period, with rules for holidays, time zones, tardiness and illness — offered as an example rather than a default schedule.

Full Text of Appendix C

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The following schedules are suggested as an example for the parents and the court to use when establishing parenting time schedules. Each case will present unique facts or circumstances which shall be considered by the court in establishing a timesharing/visitation schedule and the final schedule established by the court or agreed to by the parents may or may not be what these guidelines suggest.

1. The parenting time schedule set by the court for holidays, school breaks and summer break should control over regularly scheduled parenting time, even if this allows successive parenting time periods.

2. The parent exercising parenting time should be responsible for timely picking up the child(ren) at the beginning of the parenting time period and returning the child(ren) in a timely manner at the end of the time-sharing/visitation period.

3. Times in a parenting time schedule should be set in the time zone where the child primarily resides.

4. For parenting time pertaining to school holidays, whether in a formal school or home-schooled, the school holidays where the child(ren) primarily resides should apply.

5. Each parent should provide to the other parent contact numbers and addresses (unless a domestic violence order is in effect) where the child(ren) can be located during their scheduled parenting time.

6. The parent exercising parenting time should be given a minimum of every other weekend as parenting time with the child(ren) and one midweek parenting time. The parent having such parenting time should be responsible for delivering the child(ren) to school, child care, or the other parent's home as specifically ordered by the court or agreed to by the parents.

7. Holidays.

a. If a holiday is celebrated on a Monday following a parent's regularly scheduled parenting time, then that parent should be permitted to extend parenting time until 6:00 p.m. on the holiday, unless the parents agree otherwise.

b. Other holidays.

(i) Parent exercising parenting time. 1) During the first full year after divorce/custody proceedings have been filed, the non-residential parent should have parenting time scheduled as follows: a) New Year's Day and July 4th from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. b) Thanksgiving, beginning at 6:00 p.m. the day school ends until 3:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. c) Christmas/Winter Break, beginning at 6:00 p.m. the day school ends until noon on December 25. d) Holidays not listed that are of special interest to the family should be assigned to the non-residential parent in time amounts similar to those in a), b) and c) above. 2) Holiday time not scheduled above to the parent exercising parenting time should be with the other parent. 3) Mother's Day and Father's Day, regardless of any conflict with the above proposed schedule, should be spent with the appropriate parent from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. 4) Fall Break or Spring Break, as allowed by the child(ren)'s school calendar, should be scheduled for the parent with whom the child(ren) primarily resides in the first full year after the divorce/custody proceedings are filed from 6:00 p.m. the day school ends until 6:00 p.m. the following Friday. If school breaks are longer than one week due to the school schedule, the parent with whom the child(ren) primarily resides should be scheduled for the first half of the break and the other parent should be scheduled for the last half. 5) Summer Break should be scheduled to allow the parent exercising parenting time a minimum of two periods of two consecutive weeks during the Summer Break. Each parent should provide the time periods he or she desires to the other parent before the end of the school year, or at least 60 days in advance of the requested time. If a child(ren) must attend summer school in order to pass to the next grade, summer parenting time should not prevent school time. 6) Birthdays: Unless the birthday falls on a regularly scheduled parenting time day, the parent exercising parenting time should be scheduled for birthday time from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. If it is a regular day of the parent exercising parenting time where the child(ren) does not primarily reside, the other parent should have birthday time from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

(ii) Alternating years: For each year thereafter, the parenting time set out above should alternate between the parent with whom the child(ren) primarily resides and the parent exercising parenting time.

8. Waiting/Tardiness/Cancellations.

a. In the event either parent will be more than 30 minutes late, due to reasonable unforeseen circumstances, to pick up the child(ren), he or she should provide direct notice to the other parent or a designated third party and make suitable arrangements for exchange of the child(ren).

b. If parenting time is missed through no fault of the parent, and reasonable notice has been given, that time should be made up, if reasonable to do so.

c. If the child(ren) is ill, the parent who has the child should give 24-hour notice, if possible, to allow for appropriate plans to be made.

End

Amendment History

Kentucky publishes each rule’s amendment record as a “HISTORY” note beneath the rule, citing the Supreme Court order that adopted or amended it and that order’s effective date. It is reproduced verbatim below.

HISTORY: Amended by Order 2022-58, eff. 1-1-23. Adopted by Order 2020-1, eff. 2-1-20

Plain-English Summary

The appendix opens by saying what it is: schedules suggested as an example for parents and the court to use, with each case presenting unique facts the court must consider. FCRPP 8 places it among three sources a court may consider, alongside local rules and the parties' own written agreement.

The baseline is familiar: a minimum of every other weekend plus one midweek period for the parent exercising parenting time, who is responsible for collecting the children on time and returning them on time. Two provisions head off recurring arguments before they start — times are set in the time zone where the child primarily resides, and school holidays are those of the school where the child primarily resides, whether formal or home-schooled. Each parent gives the other contact numbers and addresses where the children can be reached during their time, unless a domestic violence order is in effect.

Holiday scheduling controls over the regular rotation, even where that produces successive parenting periods, and a holiday falling on the Monday after a parent's weekend extends that weekend to 6:00 p.m. unless the parents agree otherwise. The named holidays are divided in the first full year after filing and then alternate each year thereafter.

The last group is about ordinary life going wrong. A parent who will be more than 30 minutes late should give direct notice; time missed through no fault of the parent, where reasonable notice was given, should be made up if reasonable to do so; and where a child is ill the parent who has them should give 24-hour notice if possible so plans can be adjusted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Appendix C guidelines the default schedule in Kentucky?

No. They are suggested as an example for the parents and the court, and FCRPP 8 lists them as one of three sources a court may consider — alongside local court rules and guidelines the parties agree to in writing.

What is the baseline schedule?

A minimum of every other weekend plus one midweek parenting time for the parent exercising parenting time, who is responsible for timely collection and return of the children.

What if a parent is running late?

If either parent will be more than 30 minutes late due to reasonable unforeseen circumstances, they should give direct notice to the other parent or a designated third party.

What if the child is sick?

The parent who has the child should give 24-hour notice if possible, to allow appropriate plans to be made.

Whose school calendar and time zone apply?

Both follow the child: times are set in the time zone where the child primarily resides, and school holidays are those where the child primarily resides, whether in a formal school or home-schooled.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice (Ky. FCRPP App. C). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: parenting time guidelinesvisitation schedule Kentuckyevery other weekendholiday schedulemidweek parenting time