Spartanburg Divorce Lawyer & Attorney : Stevens-MacPhail Law Firm : South Carolina Family Law Serving Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head Island

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I recently read an article which explained how parent-time schedules are handled in Utah.  I am going to list the factors considered there, because I believe that they are good, "common-sense" factors that can benefit parties here in South Carolina and everywhere.

The parent-time schedule is considered to be the minimum parent-time to which the noncustodial parent and the child shall be entitled, unless a parent can establish otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence that more or less parent-time should be awarded based upon any of the following criteria:

1. parent-time would endanger the child's physical health or significantly impair the child's emotional development;
2. the distance between the residency of the child and the noncustodial parent;
3. a substantiated or unfounded allegation of child abuse has been made;
4. the lack of demonstrated parenting skills without safeguards to ensure the child's well-being during parent-time;
5. the financial inability of the noncustodial parent to provide adequate food and shelter for the child during periods of parent-time;
6. the preference of the child if the court determines the child to be of sufficient maturity;
7. the incarceration of the noncustodial parent in a county jail, secure youth corrections facility, or an adult corrections facility;
8. shared interests between the child and the noncustodial parent
9. the involvement of the noncustodial parent in the school, community, religious, or other related activities of the child;
10. the availability of the noncustodial parent to care for the child when the custodial parent is unavailable to do so because of work or other circumstances;
11. a substantial and chronic pattern of missing, canceling, or denying regularly scheduled parent-time;
12. the minimal duration of and lack of significant bonding in the parents' relationship prior to the conception of the child; (m) the parent-time schedule of siblings;
13. the lack of reasonable alternatives to the needs of a nursing child; and
14. any other criteria the court determines relevant to the best interests of the child.

Source:  "Parent Time Schedules" by Gregory W. Stevens, published at his Utah Divorce & Family Law Blog.