Memphis, TN family law attorney Daniel Loyd Taylor talks about how a parent’s work schedule impacts child custody arrangements. Flexibility in scheduling can be very important. Years ago, an attorney represented a father who could have been considered “Father of the Year” due to his significant involvement in his children’s lives before the divorce. He took them to doctor’s appointments, attended school meetings, did laundry, and prepared meals. However, as an over-the-road truck driver, he was sometimes away for up to 10 days at a time. The attorney had to structure his parenting time to be as flexible as possible while still keeping the children’s best interests at the forefront.

For parents who are self-employed or have flexible jobs, the ability to adjust their hours can be invaluable in structuring parenting time. It’s not just about custody; it’s about creating a parenting time schedule that accounts for responsibilities like taking the children to school or picking them up. These considerations help create a schedule that best supports the children while allowing each parent as much involvement as possible.