Standard Parenting Time Schedules and Court Guidelines in Maryland

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Maryland has no standard parenting time schedule in its statutes. For child support, shared physical custody means each parent has the child overnight more than 25% of the year, 92 nights, and both contribute to the child’s expenses.

Does Maryland have a standard parenting time schedule?

Not in the statutes we read. The court may award custody to either parent or joint custody and decides on the child’s best interest (Md. Family Law 5-203(d); 9-201). The schedule is set in your agreement or the court’s order.

What is the 25 percent line in Maryland?

Shared physical custody means that each parent keeps the child overnight for more than 25% of the year and that both parents contribute to the child’s expenses in addition to child support; the court may base a support award on shared physical custody solely on the amount of visitation awarded (12-201(o)). 25% of 365 is 91.25, so each parent needs 92 overnights.

Pattern (other parent)	Overnights a year	Share of the year (parent with fewer)	Both above 25%
2 of 14 nights	52	14.2%	No
3 of 14 nights	78	21.4%	No
4 of 14 nights	104	28.5%	Yes
5 of 14 nights	130	35.6%	Yes
6 of 14 nights	156	42.7%	Yes
7 of 14 nights	183	49.9%	Yes

These are our counts of a repeating 14-day pattern before extra summer or holiday nights.

What is the second part of the definition in Maryland?

Both parents must contribute to the expenses of the child in addition to the payment of child support. The calculator cannot check that, so a schedule above 92 overnights is a necessary count and not the whole test.

Which calculator should I use after counting overnights in Maryland?

Take the count to the Maryland child support calculator and keep the Maryland parenting time calculator count consistent with your parenting plan; the 25% line is based on overnights in a year.

Do both parents have to pay for the child in a shared schedule in Maryland?

Yes for the definition: both parents must contribute to the expenses of the child in addition to the payment of child support, so a parent who has the overnights but pays nothing toward the child may not meet the test (12-201(o)).

Are the 92 overnights counted by the night in Maryland?

The statute speaks of the parent keeping the child overnight for more than 25% of the year, so count overnights, not days or hours. A 2-2-3 or alternating week schedule gives about 183 overnights each, an alternating weekend schedule about 104, and a 5-in-14 schedule about 130.

Can a court base shared custody support only on visitation in Maryland?

Yes. The court may base a support award on shared physical custody solely on the amount of visitation awarded, regardless of the custodial designation of the parents (12-201(o)(2)).

What should a written schedule cover in Maryland?

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 method.
Transportation, communication and decision-making.
How changes are agreed and put in writing.

What about military deployment in Maryland?

Any custody or visitation order, or modification, issued during a parent’s deployment must specifically reference the deployment (9-108), and the court considers any deployment and its effect on the parent-child relationship as a best-interest factor.

What if the parents cannot agree in Maryland?

The court decides on the child’s best interest and the 16 factors. See the uncontested versus contested divorce in Maryland post for how agreed and disputed cases differ.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a standard parenting schedule in Maryland?

No statewide schedule appears in the statutes we read; the order sets it.

How many overnights is shared custody in Maryland?

More than 25% of the year, which is 92 or more overnights each.

Does a 5-in-14 schedule reach the Maryland 25% line?

Yes. It is about 130 overnights, 35.6%.

Does a 3-in-14 schedule reach the Maryland 25% line?

No. It is about 78 overnights, 21.4%.

Who sets the schedule if Maryland parents cannot agree?

The court, on the child’s best interest.

Official sources

Going through a divorce or custody case in Maryland?

A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a Maryland attorney

This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Maryland statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Maryland attorney.