Standard Parenting Time Schedules and Court Guidelines in Indiana
Indiana sets no statutory parenting time schedule. For child support, the Parenting Time Table gives a credit from 52 overnights, the equivalent of alternate weekends, to equal parenting time at 181 to 183 overnights.
Does Indiana have a standard parenting time schedule?
The statutes we read do not set one. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide typical schedules, and the child support guidelines assume that a noncustodial parent using the Parenting Time Guidelines without extending weeknights has approximately 96 to 100 overnights (Guideline 6 commentary). The schedule itself is set in your agreement or the court’s order.
What is the Parenting Time Table in Indiana?
A table of overnight ranges and percentages. It begins at 52 overnights annually, the equivalent of alternate weekends, and gives a credit that rises with each range until equal parenting time at 181 to 183 overnights; each row shows a total percentage of the basic obligation and a duplicated-expense percentage (Guideline 6).
| Pattern (other parent) | Overnights a year | Parent with fewer | Total credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 of 14 nights | 52 | 52 | 6.3% |
| 3 of 14 nights | 78 | 78 | 12.9% |
| 4 of 14 nights | 104 | 104 | 29.7% |
| 5 of 14 nights | 130 | 130 | 51.8% |
| 6 of 14 nights | 156 | 156 | 64.1% |
| 7 of 14 nights | 183 | 182 | 68.2% |
These are our counts of a repeating 14-day pattern before extra summer or holiday nights.
How is the credit applied in Indiana?
The credit equals the basic obligation times the table’s total percentage, less the basic obligation times the duplicated percentage multiplied by the credited parent’s share of income. The Indiana child support calculator applies the formula, and the Indiana parenting time calculator shows the row; the state also publishes its own worksheet (Indiana Courts child support calculator).
What if the schedule is under 52 overnights in Indiana?
The table gives no credit below 52 overnights. If the plan has fewer overnights because the child is an infant or toddler, or because of a significant distance between the parents, the court may consider an appropriate credit, and the actual cost of transportation is treated as a separate issue.
What is equal parenting time in Indiana?
When parents share parenting time equally, which the guidelines define as 181 to 183 overnights a year, one parent is designated to pay the controlled expenses and the other parent is given the parenting time credit; the controlled expenses remain the sole obligation of the parent for whom the credit is not calculated.
How should I use the credit percentage in Indiana?
It is a share of the basic child support obligation, so it only turns into dollars once income and the number of children are known. Use the percentage to see which row your schedule lands in, and use the child support calculator for the amount.
Who gets the Indiana parenting time credit?
The credit goes to the noncustodial parent, the parent with fewer overnights, for the overnights the child spends with that parent. At equal parenting time, the court designates which parent pays the controlled expenses and the other parent receives the credit (Guideline 6).
What should a written schedule cover in Indiana?
- The regular pattern, with exchange days, times and a place.
- Holidays, school breaks and summer, and how they replace the regular pattern.
- The overnight count, so child support uses the right row.
- Transportation, communication and decision-making.
- How changes are agreed and put in writing.
What if the parents cannot agree in Indiana?
The court decides on the child’s best interests and the nine factors. See the uncontested versus contested divorce in Indiana post for how agreed and disputed cases differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a standard parenting schedule in Indiana?
No statutory schedule; the Parenting Time Guidelines give typical ones and the order sets yours.
How many overnights is alternate weekends in Indiana?
52 overnights a year, where the Parenting Time Table begins.
Does a 5-in-14 schedule get an Indiana parenting time credit?
Yes. It is about 130 overnights, in the 126 to 130 row, with a 51.8% total credit.
Does a 2-in-14 schedule get an Indiana parenting time credit?
Yes. It is about 52 overnights, the first row of the table, with a 6.3% total credit.
Who sets the schedule if Indiana parents cannot agree?
The court, on the child’s best interests.
Official sources
- IC 31-17-2-8: custody; best interests
- IC 31-17-2-13: joint legal custody
- Indiana Child Support Guideline 6: parenting time credit
- IC 31-17-2.2-5: motion to prevent relocation; burden of proof
- Indiana Courts: child support 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 Indiana statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Indiana attorney.