Standard Parenting Time Schedules and Court Guidelines in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia has no standard parenting time schedule in its statutes. The parenting plan or order sets the schedule, and for child support a child with 35% or more of the year with each parent triggers a shared custody presumption.
Does the District of Columbia have a standard parenting time schedule?
Not in the statutes we read. The court may order each parent to submit a detailed parenting plan covering residence, visitation, holidays, birthdays and vacations, transportation, education, records, medical decisions, communication and conflict resolution, and it considers the plans in fashioning a custody order (D.C. Code 16-914(c)-(d)). The schedule itself is set in your agreement or the court’s order.
What is the 35% line in the District of Columbia?
A child support presumption, not a custody schedule. Where a child spends 35% or more of the time during the year with each parent, there is a presumption of shared physical custody, and the support obligation uses the shared custody procedure; either parent may rebut the presumption, and where it does not apply the sole custody method is used (16-916.01(q)).
| Pattern (other parent) | Overnights a year | Share of the year | Both at 35% or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 of 14 nights | 52 | 14.2% | No |
| 4 of 14 nights | 104 | 28.5% | No |
| 5 of 14 nights | 130 | 35.6% | Yes |
| 6 of 14 nights | 156 | 42.7% | Yes |
| 7 of 14 nights | 183 | 50.1% | Yes |
| 9 of 14 nights | 235 | 64.4% | Yes |
35% of the year is about 128 overnights. These are our counts of a repeating 14-day pattern before extra summer or holiday nights.
How is support calculated in shared custody in the District of Columbia?
The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by each parent’s share of combined income; each parent keeps the part matching his or her percentage of time with the child; the difference is the obligation, and it cannot exceed what the sole custody method would produce (16-916.01(q)(1)). The District of Columbia child support calculator applies the formula.
What should a written schedule cover in the District of Columbia?
- The regular pattern, with exchange days, times and a place.
- Holidays, birthdays, school breaks and summer, and how they replace the regular pattern.
- The overnight count, so child support uses the right method.
- Transportation, communication and decision-making.
- How conflicts are resolved, such as family counseling or mediation before going to court.
Can the schedule be changed later in the District of Columbia?
Yes. An award of custody may be modified or terminated on a determination that there has been a substantial and material change in circumstances and that the change is in the child’s best interest; the party seeking the change has the burden by a preponderance of the evidence (16-914(f)).
Do holidays override the regular schedule in the District of Columbia?
A parenting plan may include holidays, birthdays and vacation visitation as separate provisions (16-914(c)(4)), and it should say which one controls when they collide. Write the priority into the plan so the overnight count used for support is clear.
What if the parents cannot agree in the District of Columbia?
The court decides on the child’s best interest and the 17 factors. See the uncontested versus contested divorce in the District of Columbia post for the difference in procedure.
How does a schedule turn into support in the District of Columbia?
Run the District of Columbia parenting time calculator for the overnights and the District of Columbia child support calculator for the guideline amount.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a standard parenting schedule in the District of Columbia?
No statewide schedule appears in the statutes; the parenting plan or the order sets it.
How many overnights is 35% in the District of Columbia?
About 128 overnights a year.
Does a 7-in-14 schedule reach the District of Columbia 35% line?
Yes. It is about 183 overnights, 50.1%, so both parents are above 35%.
Does a 4-in-14 schedule reach the District of Columbia 35% line?
No. It is about 104 overnights, 28.5%.
Who sets the schedule if District of Columbia parents cannot agree?
The court, on the child’s best interest.
Official sources
- D.C. Code 16-914: custody of children
- D.C. Code 16-916.01: child support guideline
- D.C. Code 16-914.02: custody and visitation during military deployment
- D.C. Code 16-4602.01: initial child-custody jurisdiction
- D.C. Office of the Attorney General: child support guideline calculator
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited District of Columbia statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed District of Columbia attorney.