Virginia Parenting Time Guidelines and Schedules: What Parents Need to Know

There is no single parenting time schedule that Virginia courts hand to every family.

That surprises a lot of parents. Many walk into the process expecting a standard calendar, every other weekend, alternating holidays, done. What they discover is that Virginia courts build parenting time around your specific child, your specific situation, and what genuinely serves that child’s best interests.

That is both more flexible and more demanding than most people expect.

Here is what parenting time means in Virginia, how courts set it, and what the most common schedule models look like in practice.

What Parenting Time Means

Parenting time is exactly what it sounds like: the time your child spends in your care.

It covers weekdays, weekends, holidays, school breaks, and summer. It reflects an active parenting role, not just scheduled visits. The structure depends on your child’s age, school demands, how far apart the homes are, and each parent’s availability.

Virginia courts replaced the older concept of visitation with parenting time because the language matters. A parent is not a visitor in their child’s life.

Virginia Does Not Use a Default Schedule

Courts in Virginia do not impose a one-size-fits-all parenting time calendar.

Instead, judges review the details of your family’s specific situation and approve a schedule that aligns with the child’s best interests. When parents reach their own agreement, courts review it to confirm it meets that standard. When parents cannot agree, judges step in and decide.

What Judges Are Required to Consider

Under VA Code Section 20-124.3, judges must evaluate a specific set of factors before setting parenting time:

• The child’s age and physical and mental health (Factor 1)
• Each parent’s physical and mental health  (Factor 2)
• The relationship each parent has built with the child  (Factor 3)
• Each parent’s past role in caregiving and future ability to meet the child’s needs (Factors 4 and 5)
• Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent (Factor 6)
• The child’s relationships with siblings, relatives, school, and community (Factor 7)
• The child’s preference if mature enough to express one (Factor 8)
• Any history of family abuse, violence, or protective orders within the last 10 years (Factor 9)
• Any other factors the Court sees fit (Factor 10)

 What a parent has consistently done for their child carries far more weight than what they promise to do in the future.

Common Parenting Time Schedules Virginia Courts Use

Alternating Weekend Schedule

The child lives primarily with one parent during the school week. The other parent has parenting time every other weekend. This is one of the most common arrangements for school-aged children.

2-2-3 Schedule

One parent always has Monday and Tuesday. The other always has Wednesday and Thursday. The parties alternate the weekends. This gives the child consistent weekday structure while keeping both parents actively involved.

Week on/Week off Schedule

One full week with each parent, then switch. This works best when parents live close to each other and can coordinate smoothly. It suits older children who handle longer transitions well.

Primary Schedule With Extended Summertime

One parent handles most of the school year. The other parent receives extended time during summer and school breaks. This arrangement is common when distance between homes makes frequent exchanges impractical.

Holidays and School Breaks

Holiday schedules  always override the regular parenting time arrangement.

Winter break, spring break, and summer vacation are typically addressed separately in the parenting plan with clear start and end times. Clarity on holidays prevents more conflict than almost anything else in a parenting plan.

Parenting Time Can Be Modified

A parenting time arrangement is not permanent. When circumstances change significantly, a modification request can be filed.

Courts apply the same best interest standard under VA Code Section 20-124.3 to updated facts. The parent who has consistently followed the existing order and maintained stable involvement are in a strong position when modifications are considered.

Trustice Law Group: Virginia Family Law Attorneys Who Build Plans That Work

Parenting time is one of the most important parts of any custody and visitation arrangement and/or order. Getting it right from the start protects your relationship with your child and reduces the conflict that vague plans create.

At Trustice Law Group, we help parents in Virginia build clear, realistic parenting plans that reflect what judges consider under VA Code Section 20-124.3.

We are a female-owned Virginia family law firm. We take every case seriously because we know what is at stake.

Request a consultation or call us at 804-593-0788.

FAQs

Is there a default parenting time schedule in Virginia?

No. Courts build schedules around each family’s specific situation and the child’s best interests under VA Code Section 20-124.3.

Can teenagers choose their parenting time schedule in Virginia?

A mature teenager’s preference may be considered but does not control the court’s decision. Judges weigh it alongside all other best interest factors.

What matters most to a judge when setting parenting time?

The child’s best interests, each parent’s history of caregiving, and the ability to provide a stable and consistent environment.