You and your former spouse might have settled on a custody agreement, but the challenges don't end there. You'll have to figure out a visitation schedule that works for both parents. However, when you're talking about creating one, don't cause yourself unnecessary stress by insisting that it must be permanent. If it's not working out, you can change the schedule at any time–and in fact, there are times when you should do so for the benefit of you and your child.

When should you change your child visitation schedule?

With matters of child custody, it's important to give yourself a trial period to get everything worked out. After a few weeks, if the visitation schedule is working for everyone, you might be able to stick with it for the next few weeks. However, if you're experiencing issues, you might want to make some changes.

For example, if your child says that they're not happy with the current situation, it might be time to revise it. If they're switching to a different house every two or three days, the constant back-and-forth might be too stressful. Conversely, if they're staying with one parent for a week or two at a time, they might feel like they're not getting enough time with the other parent.

You might also need to make some changes if the schedule isn't working out for you. If the schedule starts to interfere with your work life or keeps you from your other family duties, you might want to think about trying something different. Your attorney could help you write a different schedule.

Should you call your attorney?

If you're worried about writing a schedule that doesn't go along with the judge's orders, you might want to call your attorney. An attorney could help you craft a fair and flexible visitation schedule that works for everybody.