Glossary
Parenting Time
The time a child spends in each parent’s care under a parenting plan. The number of parenting days can affect the child support calculation.
Also called: residential time, visitation
Tennessee law uses the language of parenting time and residential schedules rather than the older vocabulary of custody and visitation, though people still use both.
The count matters for two reasons. It determines the rhythm of a child’s life, and it is an input in the child support formula, so a change to the schedule can change the money. That is also why parenting time is often negotiated hardest.
Courts allocate parenting time according to the child’s best interest, applying the statutory factors. In practice, judges look closely at which parent has historically handled school, medical appointments, and daily routines, at each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other, and at stability.
General information about Tennessee law, not legal advice. How this applies depends on the facts of your matter.
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