What is Visitation (Parenting Time)?
Updated January 24, 2026
The time a parent (or in some cases another person, such as a grandparent) is scheduled to spend with a child under a court order or parenting plan, now often called parenting time or time-sharing.
Understanding Visitation (Parenting Time)
Many states have moved away from the word "visitation" toward "parenting time" or, in Florida, "time-sharing," to reflect that both parents are parenting rather than one visiting. Schedules range from alternating weekends to equal week-on, week-off arrangements, and usually include holidays, school breaks and transportation details. Courts set schedules based on the best interests of the child. When there are safety concerns, a court can order supervised visitation, where another adult or a supervised visitation center is present. Visitation rights are separate from child support, so a parent generally cannot withhold time because support is unpaid, or stop paying support because time was denied.
Examples
- 1Alternating weekends plus a weekday dinner for the parent without primary physical custody
- 2A 50/50 time-sharing schedule with exchanges at school
- 3Supervised visitation at a center after safety concerns are raised
Why This Matters in Legal Cases
The parenting schedule shapes the child's daily life and often affects child support calculations. Disputes over missed exchanges, late pickups and holidays are among the most common post-judgment conflicts. A clear, detailed schedule prevents many of those disputes, and records of how the schedule actually works are important evidence if either parent later seeks a change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between visitation and custody?
Can I stop visitation if the other parent does not pay child support?
Can grandparents get visitation?
Related Terms
Child Custody
The legal arrangement determining where children will live and who will make important decisions about their upbringing after parents separate or divorce.
Parenting Plan
A written agreement between parents that outlines how they will share time with their children, make decisions, and handle disputes after separation or divorce.
Physical Custody
The right to have a child live with a parent and the responsibility for the child's day-to-day care, as set out in a custody order or parenting plan.
Parental Relocation
A move by a parent, with a child, that is far enough to affect an existing custody or parenting time arrangement, which in most states requires the other parent's written consent or court permission.
Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body, ending the marital relationship and dividing assets, debts, and responsibilities.
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