Parenting time is the time a parent spends with a child under a custody arrangement, parenting plan, or court order.
The term is often used instead of visitation because it emphasizes the parent-child relationship.
Why parenting time matters
Parenting time affects daily routines, school logistics, holidays, transportation, communication, and each parent’s practical role in the child’s life.
It can also interact with child support calculations and custody modification requests.
Where parenting time appears
Parenting time appears in divorce cases, custody orders, parentage proceedings, temporary orders, parenting plans, and family-court modifications.
Schedules may include regular weeks, weekends, holidays, vacations, virtual contact, and exchange details.
How it differs from nearby terms
Parenting time is the broader parent-child time concept. A visitation schedule is the specific calendar or timing structure.
Legal custody concerns decision-making authority, while parenting time concerns time spent with the child.
Practical example
Parents share decision-making, but one parent has weekday parenting time and the other has alternating weekends plus school breaks.
Related Terms
Quick check
Question: Is parenting time about time spent with the child?
Answer: Yes. It describes a parent’s scheduled or ordered time with the child.