The limitations of a custody order can be very frustrating for loving parents. They don’t get to see their children as often as they might like, and they even need to share holidays and other special events, such as birthdays.
Any unexpected issue that interferes with the current parenting schedule can lead to a sense of loss and possibly strain parent-child relationships. As such, parents who must cancel their time with their children may hope to request makeup parenting time.
When does a co-parent typically need to allow makeup parenting time in Indiana?
After issues outside of parental control
The Indiana parenting guidelines recommend makeup parenting time when cancellations occur due to factors outside of a parent’s control. Those factors could include illness, a child’s extracurricular activities or even appointments scheduled by the other parent.
As a general rule, any time one parent makes a choice that limits the other’s time with the children, they should allow the parent denied that time to make up the same amount of time at a later date.
In cases where one parent repeatedly cancels the other’s time with the children and does not allow for makeup parenting time, the parents who missed time may need to go to court to seek enforcement of the custody order. They could also ask for a modification, given that their co-parent does not consistently uphold their right to see the children as scheduled.
Makeup parenting time is often important for preserving a parent-child bond. Learning more about the rules that govern child custody in Indiana can help parents assert themselves and their rights accordingly.