Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart

Special Issues
A child who has little or no contact with the other parent may have developed an important
relationship with someone he or she perceives as a parent. A child could have difficulty
coping and adjusting to a parent who reappears after a long absence. See the section on page
66 concerning absent parent reunification.
SAFETY
Protection Orders – When a protection order is in effect, the parenting schedule cannot
include contact that would violate it. Only the court can change a protection order. If there is
a protection order between the other parents, the parents may ask the court to change the
protection order to allow parenting time exchanges in specific locations. Parents also can ask
a third person to help transport the child for parenting time exchanges.
Domestic Violence – When there is a history of domestic violence, the court is unlikely to
order shared parenting. In cases of domestic violence, the court order may provide for
supervised parenting time during which a specified adult must be present. The court order
should name the person who will supervise the parenting time. Some courts have supervision
programs, but many do not. Supervised parenting time centers that are not court-affiliated
exist in some Ohio counties. Often, there is a cost for this service. If there is no court
supervision program or center available, the supervisor named in the court order must be a
responsible adult who has time to supervise during the parenting time and can act calmly and
maturely with the parent who is being supervised.
Alcohol or Drug Use or Abuse – If there is a concern about a parent’s alcohol or drug abuse,
the court order may provide for drug testing or include other provisions limiting alcohol or
drug use during parenting time for one or both parents. If testing is required, the parenting
time order should state how often testing will happen, who will pay for it and what will
happen if there is a positive test.
SCHEDULES FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES
It is a good idea to keep siblings together. Sometimes, though, this is not possible. Consider
the unique needs of your children when deciding how much time each parent will spend with
each child. For example, when there is a wide age difference between siblings, the parenting
schedule might include some alone time with the parents for each child. Remember, the
schedules based on ages are only suggestions. Parents may decide that a certain schedule
works best for all of their children, even though that schedule is not recommended for a
child’s age.
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